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, 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.” Celtic’s hierarchy have again come under fire for making just two new signings this summer, albeit Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran both come with Champions League pedigree.

Asked if he felt the club were matching his ambition, McGregor said: “Yes, listen, we’ve signed two strikers, two really good players. Obviously, they’ve come in and done really well.

“Big Kasper has just joined us over the last 24 hours. It’s good signs, it’s positive steps and that is to add to what is a really good group already.

“I spoke about this at the end of the season as well. I don’t really think there’s a group of players and a group of staff that could have got us through that difficult moment as much as these boys did.

“It’s obviously about trying to add bits of quality, but what we do have here is guys who want to work for the club, who are good footballers, who want to get better and ultimately did bring success to the football club during a difficult season, so we have the makings of a really, really good team.

“Obviously, the standard for us is trying to get to Champions League football. That’s where we want to be. It takes the club to a different level. So, can we keep pushing as players, staff and our football club to make sure we get there?”