Chelsea trio of Nigerian defenders selected for pre-season tour as Alonso turns to youth

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has named Nigerian defenders Tosin Adarabioyo, Tayo Subuloye and Landon Emenalo in a 27-man squad for the club’s 2026 pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.

Adarabioyo, already part of the first-team set-up at Stamford Bridge, will be joined on the trip by academy pair Subuloye and Emenalo, who have both been promoted to the senior group after catching Alonso’s eye in the early stages of pre-season.

The squad flies out from London to Sydney on Monday, where Chelsea will begin a tour that also takes in fixtures across Asia.

Alonso turns to academy amid World Cup absences

Subuloye and Emenalo have been drafted in to reinforce numbers, with several senior players yet to return following their involvement in the closing stages of the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

Among the defenders still on an extended break are club captain Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah and Malo Gusto, leaving Alonso short of options across the back line as preparations intensify for the new campaign.

Alonso has opted to use the gap to accelerate the development of some of Chelsea’s most highly rated youngsters, handing them the chance to work and travel with the senior squad for the duration of the tour.

Standout season for Subuloye
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Subuloye heads into the summer off the back of an excellent 2025-26 season at youth level.

The central defender captained Chelsea’s U18s to the U18 Premier League national title, leading the side throughout a campaign that ended with silverware and widespread praise inside the club.

His performances earned him the club’s Scholar of the Year award, underlining how highly he is regarded within Chelsea’s academy structure and strengthening his case for greater exposure at senior level.

Emenalo shows versatility on big stage
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Emenalo, a left-back capable of operating in multiple positions, also played a key part in that U18 Premier League title success.

He featured in the final against Manchester City U18s, where he was deployed in midfield rather than in his usual defensive role, demonstrating the tactical flexibility that has appealed to Alonso and his staff.

That ability to play both at full-back and in central areas is expected to offer Chelsea added cover in several positions during the tour.

Pre-season schedule across Australia and Asia

Chelsea’s itinerary features a series of high-profile friendlies as Alonso shapes his squad for the forthcoming season.

The Blues will take on Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia before facing Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, as well as European heavyweights Juventus and AC Milan.

The tour will conclude with a match against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, providing further opportunities for Adarabioyo, Subuloye and Emenalo to impress in senior company before the squad returns to London.