Chelsea Football Club is facing mounting pressure from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) regarding its treatment of senior players Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, who have been excluded from first-team training under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
Sterling, 30, and Disasi, 27, are currently training separately at Chelsea’s Cobham base after being deemed surplus to requirements. Despite expectations that both would depart during the summer transfer window, neither secured a move, leaving them sidelined until at least January.
The PFA has stepped in to ensure the duo are provided with adequate training resources and support, citing FIFA’s strict guidelines on player isolation. Under these regulations, clubs may be in breach if players are excluded in a manner that constitutes “abusive conduct,” potentially giving grounds for contract termination under “just cause”.
Sterling, who earns approximately £325,000 per week, has two years remaining on his contract, while Disasi is tied to the club until 2029. Both players spent last season on loan—Sterling at Arsenal and Disasi at Aston Villa—but failed to finalize permanent exits this summer.
Chelsea reportedly offered Sterling moves to Bayern Munich and Napoli, with interest also coming from Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray. However, the England international opted to remain in London to avoid disrupting his family, particularly as his son is enrolled in Arsenal’s academy.
The club has assigned both players specific training slots and personal coaches, and is said to be cooperating with the PFA to ensure compliance with FIFA standards. Maresca, meanwhile, has defended the club’s stance, stating that while the situation is “not ideal,” Chelsea is providing the necessary support for the players to maintain fitness and prepare for future opportunities.
As the January transfer window approaches, the spotlight remains on Chelsea’s handling of high-profile outcasts—and whether the PFA’s involvement will set a precedent for player welfare across elite football.
