Chelsea have made a U-turn over ‘bomb squad’ member Axel Disasi with the defender set to return to first-team training, in response to reports.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca previously made it clear to Disasi that the 27-year-old centre-back was not a part of his plans.
Disasi was expected to depart Stamford Bridge in the summertime transfer window but ended up staying in west London despite interest within the player.
He was placed in Maresca’s ‘bomb squad’ with Disasi excluded from the primary team and never allowed to make use of the identical facilities and toilets as his teammates.
Despite being frozen out, it was reported on Monday that Disasi was still holding out hope that Maresca would let him play for the first-team again.
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Disasi’s wish now looks set to be granted with Sky Sports reporting that the Frenchman will likely be reintegrated into Chelsea’s first-team squad.
The previous Monaco star, who moved to Chelsea for £38m in 2023, is returning to first-team training after captaining the club’s U21s side.
Disasi still more likely to leave Chelsea in January
Despite moving out of the ‘bomb squad’, though, it is known that Disasi remains to be more likely to leave Chelsea within the January transfer window.
Disasi rejected West Ham and AFC Bournemouth loan moves in the summertime as he had his heart set on returning to former club Monaco.
He played for the Ligue 1 side from 2020 to 2023 but for whatever reason, a possible second stint didn’t materialise.
‘Within the period between the approaches from Bournemouth and West Ham, Monaco arrived and that hit me emotionally,’ Disasi told French outlet Le Media Carre in September.
‘I had three incredible years at Monaco. Once they got here in, all of the memories got here back. Monaco is home.
‘I hoped that Chelsea would find an answer to permit me to depart on loan. I pushed until the last minute to go to Monaco.’
Disasi has not began a Premier League game for Chelsea in almost 12 months – a 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town in December 2024.
Capped five times for the France national team, Disasi has played a complete of 61 matches for Chelsea thus far.
Disasi was sent out on loan to Aston Villa last season, where he made 10 appearances.
He’s under contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2029.
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