Axel Disasi’s time at Chelsea appears to be drawing to a close, with the 27-year-old defender struggling to secure a future at Stamford Bridge. Signed from Monaco for £38.5million in the summer of 2023, the France international has failed to win over manager Enzo Maresca, who has made it clear that Disasi is not part of his plans.
In January, Chelsea loaned Disasi to Aston Villa, where he made 10 appearances, playing both centre-back and right-back. Despite his efforts, Villa, who finished sixth in the Premier League under Unai Emery, opted not to make the move permanent. Disasi returned to Chelsea, but his prospects have only worsened since.
During the summer transfer window, several Premier League clubs, including Bournemouth, showed interest in the Frenchman. Bournemouth held talks over a potential loan deal but ultimately signed Veljko Milosavljevic from Red Star Belgrade for £13m and brought in Alex Jimenez on loan from AC Milan. With no takers, Disasi has been left training away from Chelsea’s first team, his future at the club increasingly uncertain.
A glimmer of hope has emerged, however, with reports from Italian outlet Juve.Live suggesting that Juventus could offer Disasi a lifeline. The Serie A giants are reportedly considering a loan move for the defender, with an option to buy, as they seek cover for Gleison Bremer, who missed most of last season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Maresca has been candid about Disasi’s situation. Speaking to reporters in September, the Chelsea boss addressed the defender’s exclusion, along with that of Raheem Sterling, saying, “I’ve been in Raheem’s situation and Axel’s situation as a player. I know it’s not the best feeling because if you’re a player, you want to train and play. But for different reasons, the situation is what it is at this moment.”
Maresca emphasized that such situations are not unique to Chelsea, adding, “It’s not just Chelsea, it’s any club in the world, I can promise you. Italy, Spain, England, France, USA, Brazil, any country in the world. For any reason, if the player and the club don’t find a solution, you are not involved in the squad.”
In a pointed remark, Maresca contrasted Disasi’s situation with tougher realities, saying, “My father is 75 years old, and for 50 years he has been a fisherman working from two o’clock in the morning until 10 o’clock in the morning. This is a hard life. Not the way a player works.”
When injuries to Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana left Chelsea short of defensive options for matches against Brighton, Benfica, and Liverpool, Maresca was asked if Disasi could be reintegrated. His response was unequivocal: “There is not any information from the club to consider that, so at the moment he is not an option.”
With Maresca’s words signaling the end of Disasi’s Chelsea career, the reported interest from Juventus could be the defender’s chance to revive his fortunes. A move to the Club World Cup champions could offer Disasi a fresh start, but for now, his £38.5m transfer to Chelsea looks increasingly like a costly misstep for the Blues.