Chelsea player asks to leave Stamford Bridge after European failure: report

Filip Jorgensen joined Chelsea from Villarreal in summer 2024 for a reported 24.5 million fee to challenge for the starting goalkeeper spot. He did not displace Robert Sanchez, who remained first choice throughout the 2025/26 season except for a mid-season wobble. Jorgensen received only sporadic opportunities in cup competitions and spent most of the Premier League campaign on the bench. Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as head coach after a difficult year and failed to qualify for European competitions, reducing the fixture list for 2026/27. With fewer matches and less squad rotation, backup goalkeepers face fewer chances. Mike Penders is set to join and further push Jorgensen down the pecking order. Jorgensen has reportedly started talks about an early sale to cut losses.

"Jorgensen arrived from Villarreal in the summer of 2024 for a reported 24.5 million fee with the intention of challenging for the starting spot. However, he has failed to ever truly displace Chelsea No. 1 Robert Sanchez, who remained firmly established as the club's first-choice goalkeeper throughout the 2025/26 season, save for a mid-season wobble."

"Given sporadic opportunities to impress across various cup competitions, Jorgensen has ultimately failed to do enough to usurp his Spanish counterpart, leaving him confined to the bench for the vast majority of the Premier League campaign. The 24-year-old's prospects for the upcoming season look increasingly bleak at Stamford Bridge."

"Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new head coach following a highly challenging year. Alongside a change in the dugout, the Blues face a heavily reduced fixture list for the 2026/27 campaign after failing to qualify for any European competitions. With no continental football to rotate his squad, Alonso is expected to rely heavily on a fixed starting eleven, narrowing the window of opportunity for Chelsea's backup players."

"Compounding the issue for Jorgensen is the impending arrival of highly-rated young Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, who is set to formally join the squad and drop the Dane even further down the pecking order. Recognising that a sale could realistically suit all parties involved, Jorgensen has reportedly initiated talks to cut his losses early."

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