Transfer blow for Chelsea as Jonathan Tah prefers Barcelona move

Chelsea were up against Manchester United and Barcelona for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah

Under Enzo Maresca’s leadership, Chelsea have performed very well and remain very well in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

However, the mounting injury concerns, coupled with unexpected suspensions and departures, could prove to be a cause for concern as the team enters a decisive and demanding phase of the campaign. The latest Chelsea star to enter the treatment room is Nicolas Jackson, who has been ruled out until April with a hamstring injury.

The Blues also have defenders Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana on the sidelines, while Axel Disasi left the club to join Aston Villa on loan during the recently concluded winter transfer window. This has left Enzo Maresca light as far as the defensive options are concerned, with no new players arriving in the past window.

The Stamford Bridge chiefs have been linked with several defenders over recent months, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah. The Blues were keen on signing the German defender from Bayer Leverkusen in the January transfer window.

As the 29-year-old is out of contract at Bay Arena at the end of the season (Transfermarkt), they explored a potential bargain deal for him. However, a move didn’t materialise and he ended up staying at Bayer Leverkusen. The Pensioners’ interest in Jonathan Tah hasn’t faded, but they could be in for a transfer blow.

According to a report from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Tah is set to snub both Chelsea and Manchester United in favour of joining Barcelona ahead of the 2025/26 season. He has chosen Barcelona as his next destination instead of the Premier League, with the centre-back expected to become the Catalan side’s first signing of the summer transfer window.

Viewed as one of the Bundesliga’s top defenders, Tah played a starring role in helping Bayer Leverkusen lift their first league title in the club’s history last season. The German international was outstanding throughout the 2023/24 campaign, racking up 48 appearances across all competitions. It was a testament to his durability and reliability, as Leverkusen won the German Cup too.

As for Chelsea, Maresca requires a leader in the backline who can marshal the troops and produce the goods consistently. A winner on top of that would be a big bonus, and Tah fits that criteria perfectly. However, the Leverkusen star keen on donning the Barcelona colours should come as a seismic blow for the West Londoners.

The Blues have well-documented defensive frailties at the moment, so bringing in a high-profile name like Tah on a free transfer would certainly go down as a fantastic piece of business. The Hamburg-born talent can bring solidity, leadership, physicality and experience to this Chelsea side, thus, it is not rocket science why Maresca has been vying for Tah’s signature.

While there is still time for Chelsea to sell their project under Maresca and lure Tah to Stamford Bridge, the defender seems to have his heart set on a move to Barcelona.