Brighton’s Danny Welbeck set for Chelsea medical after agreeing two-year deal

Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck celebrates. Pic: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire.

Danny Welbeck has agreed to join Chelsea from Brighton and is set to have a medical at Stamford Bridge.

The 35-year-old will then fly to Hong Kong to join his new team-mates on the second leg of their pre-season tour, having agreed a two-year deal.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker emerged on Monday as a surprise candidate to bolster the Blues’ forward line after scoring 13 Premier League goals in 37 matches last term – the best return of his career.

The deal increases the likelihood of departures from the London club, with uncertainty already surrounding the futures of Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson.

Delap is considered second-choice striker behind Joao Pedro, who impressed in his debut campaign last season with 15 league goals and scored a nine-minute hat-trick in Tuesday’s 6-4 friendly win over Western Sydney Wanderers, while Jackson spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich and has attracted interest from Aston Villa.

Former Manchester City academy player Delap had been expected to be given a second year to prove himself after an unsuccessful debut campaign following his £30million move from Ipswich a year ago, though this latest development would seem to cast doubt on his future.

Welbeck’s signing would mark another significant step in a revised Chelsea transfer policy, as they seek to recruit more established buys under new manager Xabi Alonso.

With more than 400 Premier League appearances, the former England striker’s arrival is the clearest departure yet from the club’s recent strategy of seeking out young, inexperienced players with potential.

Welbeck signed a 12-month contract extension at Brighton in March.

Alonso also has Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha on the books following his move from sister club Strasbourg, as well as 20-year-old Marc Guiu, who has been given only limited playing time in the league since moving from Barcelona in 2024.

Meanwhile, Roberto De Zerbi wants to keep Lucas Bergvall at Tottenham but insists the young midfielder must have the “right spirit” to stay.

Bergvall made his first start of pre-season in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Sydney FC on Wednesday but his future at the club remains uncertain.

The 20-year-old experienced a difficult 2025-26 campaign where he made only 17 starts and featured regularly out of position. It has been followed by big-money signings Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes arriving this summer.

It is understood bids by Nottingham Forest and Newcastle for Bergvall this month have been rejected but the 20-year-old could still exit Tottenham before the end of the transfer window.

De Zerbi told reporters: “I am speaking with (Bergvall) before the end of the last season, during the World Cup two times but now we are speaking better, face to face, without a competition in this moment.” 

Asked if Bergvall had expressed a desire to leave, De Zerbi said: “No, never.

“I’m always being very clear with him and with you. I would like that he stays with us. I think he’s potentially a top, top, top player, but then I don’t want to convince anyone to stay.

“Tottenham is already, without me, a top club and we are not to convince anyone to stay. He can find the space if he stays with us.

“The competition within the players will be very strong because we are Tottenham and we have to build a strong squad. Not just 11 players.

“It’s very clear, his idea. He wants space. He wants to play as a double pivot as a position. I can’t give, for any player in the world, the place in the first XI guaranteed, especially for me, I want to be honest with the players. I want to be clear.

“I would like that he stays. I would like that he stays, but if he doesn’t want, then what can I do? Nothing."

Elsewhere, Callum McGregor reiterated that Celtic is “where I want to be” amid ongoing speculation linking the long-serving captain with a reunion with former boss Brendan Rodgers at Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.

The 33-year-old has spent his entire career at Celtic Park bar a loan stint at Notts County in 2013-2014.

McGregor said in April he wanted the club to match his ambition if he was to stay on as they laboured towards the William Hill Premiership title.

The midfielder indicated in an interview with Sky Sports on Wednesday that he intends to remain at Celtic Park for the upcoming campaign, which kicks off at home to Dundee on Monday.

“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “Listen, this is a football club that’s been part of my whole life since I was eight, nine years old. It’s where I want to be. It’s where I want to play football.

“Ultimately, I want to keep driving everything that I possibly can to make sure this club is successful. Then eventually, the day that you do leave it, you want to leave it in a really good place.”