Chelsea Faces Pre-Season Setbacks with Palmer and Colwill Out

Chelsea’s pre-season tour took a sharp twist in Hong Kong as two of Xabi Alonso’s most trusted starters, Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill, disappeared from the teamsheet on the eve of a glamour friendly against Juventus.

No drama, but a clear warning sign.

Both were left out as a precaution after picking up minor knocks during Chelsea’s intensive tour schedule, with club medics advising against any risk in a high-tempo contest. For a squad already juggling fitness, form and transfer noise, it forced an early reshuffle of Alonso’s plans.

Palmer’s spark missing just as he caught fire

Palmer’s absence stung most. Since landing at Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old has been electric, and this tour had only underlined his growing importance.

He came off the bench in the wild 6–4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in the Sydney Super Cup, threading an assist into the chaos, then started in the narrow 2–1 defeat to Tottenham. He was not just involved; he was central, the creative hinge around which Chelsea’s attacks swung.

Then, suddenly, he was out.

Pitchside before kick-off in Hong Kong, Palmer cut a frustrated figure. “I’m disappointed not to play due to a slight issue, but I love Hong Kong. Amazing support,” he said, offering a glimpse of both his irritation and his appreciation of the tour’s backdrop. The message was clear: this is not a long-term concern, but it is serious enough not to push.

For Alonso, it meant tearing up the attacking script.

Colwill out, defence reshaped

Losing Colwill at the same time only deepened the disruption. The young defender has become a pillar of Chelsea’s build-up play, and his absence forced a new partnership at the heart of the back line.

Wesley Fofana stepped in alongside Tosin Adarabioyo, a pairing designed to plug the gap and provide enough stability against Juventus’ seasoned forwards. It was a test not just of their defending, but of their ability to knit together quickly under the glare of a high-profile friendly.

Around them, the full-back slots stayed in familiar hands. Marco Palestra and Jorrel Hato both retained their places, offering a blend of youthful energy and growing experience on the flanks. The structure remained recognisable, even if the personnel had shifted.

New roles, new faces

Higher up the pitch, Alonso had to get creative.

With Palmer sidelined, Joao Pedro was handed the central attacking brief, asked to occupy spaces and link play in the zones Palmer usually thrives in. That tweak opened the door for Danny Welbeck, a summer signing, to make his Chelsea debut.

Welbeck’s inclusion gave the front line a different profile: more direct running, more penalty-box instinct, less of the drifting, playmaking influence that Palmer provides. It was a reminder that this Chelsea side is still being assembled, still experimenting, still learning how to function without its new talisman when needed.

The most intriguing decision came in midfield. Moises Caicedo, the anchor and reference point, lined up next to 16-year-old academy prospect Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who was handed his first start for the club. Throwing a teenager into a game against Juventus, even in pre-season, is no soft introduction. It was a bold call, and a clear signal that Alonso is willing to accelerate the development of those he trusts.

Mudryk back from the cold

On the touchline, another story was quietly unfolding.

Mykhailo Mudryk, out of the Chelsea picture since November 2024, took his place on the bench. The Ukrainian winger had been serving a provisional suspension in relation to a doping dispute, a cloud that threatened to derail his career just as he tried to settle in England.

That cloud has now lifted. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rescinded his four-year ban, clearing him to play again and handing Chelsea a potentially explosive weapon for the season ahead.

Alonso laid out the reality of Mudryk’s return. “We trained yesterday. He came directly from the airport to the hotel. So, yesterday was more about the feelings, more about the emotions, to be back with the players to assess the fitness level. But yes, he could play, maybe 90 minutes too early, but he can be selected. He’s selected, so he can play. We are thrilled that Misha could be with us.”

It was as much about reintegration as it was about tactics. Mudryk’s name back on a teamsheet changes the mood around the squad. His pace, his unpredictability, his raw threat – all of it gives Chelsea a different dimension, even if his match sharpness will take time to return.

Future still uncertain for £62m winger

His reinstatement does not end the questions, though.

Despite being cleared to play, Mudryk’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge remains under review. Alonso admitted that the club is still weighing up the best route for the £62 million signing, with several Premier League sides tracking him as a potential loan option.

It leaves Chelsea in a delicate position: a high-value asset back in the fold, a manager keen to harness his talent, and a market that knows his situation is not fully settled.

A squad in motion as the window tightens

All of this unfolds against the backdrop of a frantic end to the transfer window. Chelsea are closing in on an 11th summer signing, pushing aggressively to reshape the squad while simultaneously managing the physical load on their core players.

Palmer and Colwill’s minor setbacks feed into that larger story. The club cannot afford to lose key pieces with the season opener looming, and every selection in pre-season now carries a calculation: minutes versus risk, rhythm versus caution.

For now, the decision is clear. Palmer and Colwill sit out, recover, and aim to be ready when the real business starts.

The question is whether this careful management and constant churn will leave Chelsea sharper than their rivals when the season kicks off – or still searching for their true identity when the first whistle blows.