Chelsea have flatly rejected any offers for academy product Josh Acheampong, labeling the 20-year-old defender "untouchable" as incoming manager Xabi Alonso prepares to take charge. The club views Acheampong as a foundational piece for their rebuild, despite a frustrating season that saw him log just over 1,000 minutes across 30 appearances.
Acheampong remains under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2029, locking him in through what the club hopes will be a new chapter rather than another reset. His extension signals a clear message: the hierarchy sees him as someone worth building around, not cashing out on.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
Who Else Wears The Untouchable Tag?
The club's four untouchables under Alonso are Acheampong, midfield enforcer Moisés Caicedo, playmaker Cole Palmer and forward João Pedro. All four are tied to long-term deals running through 2033, a rarity in modern football where rosters turn over quickly.
This isn't merely loyalty. Caicedo recently signed his extension. Palmer publicly confirmed his desire to stay despite speculation throughout 2025–26. Pedro, despite Barcelona interest following a standout debutseason, has been told plainly: he's not leaving. Even captain Reece James and Brazilian teenager Estêvão, absent from the original report, fit that category.
It's a short list. That's the point.
Who Might Leave Instead
Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella present a different picture. Both voiced frustration with the club's direction back in March, with Fernández earning an internal suspension after flirting publicly with Real Madrid. Neither secured Champions League qualification, and now both appear keen on exits.
Chelsea will listen—but only at the right price. Fernández carries a $161.2 million (£120 million) valuation. For context, that's roughly what three untouchables cost combined. The club appears willing to let veterans depart if the money makes sense, while protecting the younger core.
It's a peculiar rebuild: lock in the kids, monetize the disappointed. Whether that arithmetic works will define Alonso's first transfer window.