Chelsea have been presented with a potential escape route for their exiled defender Axel Disasi, only to find it blocked by a stringent FIFA regulation.
The Bomb Squad Exile and a Glimmer of Hope
The club accepted a £38million offer from Monaco to sign the French centre-back in January 2023, but his career at Stamford Bridge never ignited. After being deemed surplus to requirements by former manager Enzo Maresca, Disasi spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
His return in the summer saw him and teammate Raheem Sterling ostracised to the so-called 'bomb-squad', training away from the first-team and using separate facilities. Despite efforts to sell him, with West Ham and Crystal Palace among the interested Premier League clubs, a permanent move failed to materialise before the deadline.
Recently, Disasi has been brought back into first-team training sessions, with Chelsea's coaching staff reportedly impressed by his professional attitude and positive influence on younger players. Nevertheless, the club's intention to sell remains firm.
Roma's Interest and the Regulatory Hurdle
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, clubs like Roma, Lyon, and Paris FC have registered interest. BBC Sport reports that Roma are the most keen, proposing a loan deal for the 27-year-old, which aligns with Disasi's own preference for a move abroad.
However, this seemingly perfect solution has hit a major snag. FIFA rules stipulate that clubs can only loan a maximum of six non-homegrown players to foreign clubs. Chelsea have already reached this limit.
Their quota includes forward Nicolas Jackson's loan to Bayern Munich and the temporary moves of Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez to Strasbourg, a club also owned by Chelsea's Todd Boehly.
Chelsea's Limited January Options
This regulation leaves Chelsea with two clear paths for Disasi in the upcoming January transfer window. Any move to a foreign club like Roma must now be a permanent transfer. Alternatively, Chelsea could still loan him to another English club, or they would need to recall one of their existing overseas loanees to free up a slot.
With three-and-a-half years still remaining on his contract, Chelsea are poised to take a significant financial loss on their initial £38m investment. It is now a waiting game to see if Roma will convert their loan interest into a permanent offer or if another suitor will emerge.
The situation underscores the complex strategic planning required in the modern transfer market, where club quotas can be as influential as player form in determining a career's next chapter.
