Chelsea has confirmed the first two transfers of the January window, with young players Ronnie Stutter and Gabriel Slonina both recalled to the club. While their returns mark the start of a potentially busy month, both players could still head out on loan again for the remainder of the season.
Stutter, who impressed for the Under-21s last season under Mark Robinson, was loaned to Burton Albion this summer. However, the 19-year-old struggled with injuries and only made three appearances without scoring.
Despite a promising past season with 11 goals in Premier League 2, his fitness issues have led to his return to Cobham for further development, according to a Chelsea statement.
Slonina, a 20-year-old goalkeeper, had a mixed experience during his loan at Barnsley. He started well, even winning a penalty shootout for the team, but was dropped following some costly mistakes and an injury that sidelined him for several months.
The American international had initially joined Chelsea in 2022 amid interest from Real Madrid, but his journey has been challenging. His time at KAS Eupen in Belgium also failed to make the impact Chelsea had hoped for.
Looking ahead, Chelsea is planning for the summer transfer window, which is expected to be quieter than the past few years. Some players, like Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka, could leave in search of more playing time, while young players like Josh Acheampong, Marc Guiu, and Tyrique George are expected to stay under Enzo Maresca’s guidance.
Chelsea may also recall Lesley Ugochukwu or Andrey Santos, with Ugochukwu’s loan at Southampton not going as expected. Meanwhile, Santos has impressed in France.
The club is primarily focusing on reshaping its squad and securing destinations for fringe players and unsuccessful loanees. However, no major transfers are anticipated in January, as attention shifts to the summer.
