NEWS

Axel Disasi’s Shock Chelsea First-Team Return? Bomb Squad Captain Back in the Fold

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Chelsea fans got a surprise last weekend when Axel Disasi turned out for the under-21s—but the real headline could be yet to come: the 27-year-old may be on his way back to first-team training.

According to Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solkehol, Disasi is “set to return to training with the Chelsea first team.” While he’s still expected to leave in January, this move isn’t just procedural. It’s a chance to rebuild match fitness, showcase his talent, and maybe even reignite his first-team ambitions. As the BBC puts it, it’s a “win-win” for both the club and the player, rewarding Disasi’s “professionalism behind the scenes in difficult circumstances.”

Once considered surplus midway through last season, Disasi spent the latter half on loan at Aston Villa. A permanent summer move never materialized, leaving him to continue carrying the Bomb Squad banner alongside Raheem Sterling. With 61 appearances and five goals for Chelsea, plus a Europa Conference League winner’s medal in his trophy cabinet, he’s no stranger to the Stamford Bridge spotlight.

Disasi himself reportedly “retains hope” of playing for the first team again—a hope that now feels just a little more tangible. Fans watching training could be in for a welcome surprise if the Bomb Squad captain steps back onto the pitch for the Blues.

As per the BBC, these moves are part of “a bid to rebuild his match fitness and put himself in the shop window”, a “win-win” situation for both parties and a reward for the 27-year-old’s “professionalism behind the scenes in difficult circumstances”. Then again, the player himself is said to “retain hope” that he may yet pull on a Chelsea first-team shirt for real.

Disasi was deemed surplus to requirements midway through last season, and spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Aston Villa. But he failed to secure a move away over the summer, leaving him to carry the flag for the Bomb Squad alongside Raheem Sterling. Overall, he’s made 61 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 5 goals. He did get a winner’s medal for our Conference League triumph (but not the Club World Cup).