Chelsea submit new Premier League squad for second half of the season as Kenedy is added at Lewis Baker’s expense
As per the club’s official website, Chelsea have submitted their new Premier League squad list for the second half of the season after the closure of the January transfer window which saw relatively less activity from the Blues.
In what was a quiet January for the Blues, the club did not see any new faces being added to the senior squad, despite the injury issues with Ben Chilwell and Reece James. The only incomings that Chelsea brought in were youngsters Mason Burstow from League One side Charlton Athletic and Dylan Williams from Derby County. The players are expected to join the youth teams at the club academy.
As is the norm, all Premier League clubs are required to submit their revised squad lists for the remainder of the campaign after the mid-season transfer window. The Blues have complied, making just one change from the earlier half of the season.
Winger Kenedy is the one name who has been added to the club’s Premier League squad, taking jersey number 23 for the rest of the league campaign. The Brazilian replaces Lewis Baker, who departed the Blues for Stoke City on a permanent transfer.
Kenedy makes Premier League squad
The player was recalled from loan at Flamengo last month, with manager Thomas Tuchel requiring cover for the injured Ben Chilwell who has been ruled out of the season. Although a winger by trade, the Brazilian is capable of playing in different roles on the left flank.
He joins Chelsea’s Premier League squad list until the end of the season. Each club is allowed to register 25 first-team players over the age of 21, of whom a minimum of eight should be homegrown. A ‘homegrown’ player is someone of any nationality, who is 21 or older on 1 January 2022. Further, he should have spent three years between the ages of 16 and 21 attached to an English league team.
With the second half of the season yet to be played, Tuchel will hope that Kenedy’s inclusion in the squad helps out his current defensive crisis at left-back. Chilwell is unavailable for the rest of the campaign, and Marcos Alonso remains the only senior option available.
The team is one injury-to-Alonso away from having no recognised left-back in the side. Kenedy’s availability provides some relief, as the player has some experience playing in the position from his earlier years at Chelsea. Though not known to be proficient in the role, we can hope that Kenedy is able to do the job until the end of the season.
Fans may well have felt safer had Chelsea added a more accomplished, natural wing-back in January. Kenedy’s last league appearance in a Chelsea shirt came around four and a half years ago against Watford in a 4-3 win. He hasn’t been trusted to play for our senior team for quite a while now, so it is curious to see him back at Stamford Bridge all of a sudden.
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With the club requiring at least 8 players categorised as homegrown, the Blues have listed new signing Romelu Lukaku in the category. The Belgian spent the early years of his career at Chelsea and is eligible to be registered as a homegrown player.
After a long international break, Tuchel will hope that his players return to the club rejuvenated and with their batteries recharged. A long second half of the season still awaits, and so does the opportunity of winning some silverware. The Blues’ first test since the break will be to go up against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup this weekend.