Barcelona's Raphinha and Fermin Lopez. (REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla)
Chelsea have been one of the Premier League’s busiest clubs this summer, tearing through the transfer market with a flurry of arrivals and departures.
The Blues have offloaded stars like João Félix, Djordje Petrovic, Noni Madueke, Marc Guiu — though Guiu recently returned following a hamstring injury to summer signing Liam Delap — and many more, while welcoming in the likes of Jamies Gittens, Delap himself, Jorrel Hato, Joao Pedro, and Alejandro Garnacho.
Even with all the incomings, Chelsea have still been chasing top talent.
One of their high-priority targets this summer was Fermin Lopez, the 22-year-old Spain international, who had long been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea have now suffered a significant blow in their pursuit.
Fermin Commits Long-Term Future to Barcelona
Chelsea’s hopes of landing Lopez ended as the Spaniard confirmed he will remain at Barcelona.
According to BBC Sport, the forward had been weighing a potential move over the final weekend of the transfer window, but priorities shifted after Delap suffered a serious hamstring injury, leaving Chelsea scrambling to resolve their striker situation.
The Spanish international, described as “exceptional” by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, has made it clear where his loyalties lie.
In an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo, Lopez said: “My priority has always been to be at Barcelona. I arrived when I was 12; it was my dream to be here, to be able to reach the first team.”
He added, addressing Chelsea’s interest: “It’s always a compliment when there’s interest from other clubs, but the truth is, I always had the idea of staying at Barça and being able to succeed here. My goal is to stay here. You know, in football, you never know, and there are things that don’t depend on you, but my priority has always been to stay at Barça.”
For Chelsea, this represents yet another missed opportunity in a summer full of high-profile targets. The club will now have to recalibrate, focusing on the other incomings and reshuffling their strategy as the season kicks into full swing.
About the Author
