England and Ghana forward Danny Welbeck has joined Chelsea from Brighton, bringing 400 Premier League appearances and a wealth of top-flight experience to the London club.
The 35-year-old centre-forward completed the move on 1 August 2026 and has signed a contract with Chelsea until 30 June 2028. No transfer fee has been disclosed.
Welbeck spent the previous six seasons with Brighton after joining the club from Watford on a free transfer in October 2020. He made his name in the Premier League with Manchester United before moving to Arsenal in 2014 for €20m, later returning to the competition with Watford.
Across his Premier League career, Welbeck has scored 90 goals and provided 38 assists in 400 appearances. He has also played in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Champions League and Europa League, giving him experience across domestic and European competition.
His honours include two Premier League titles, two League Cups and a Champions League triumph with Manchester United. He also won the FIFA Club World Cup with the club in 2009 and lifted the Community Shield three times during his time at Old Trafford.
Welbeck won the FA Cup twice with Arsenal, in 2015 and 2017, and was part of the Arsenal side that finished as Europa League runners-up in 2019.
Born in Manchester, Welbeck came through Manchester United’s youth system before making his senior breakthrough at the club. He spent time on loan at Preston during the 2009-10 season and Sunderland in 2010-11, returning to United after each spell.
The striker’s career record also includes 38 FA Cup appearances with 11 goals, 31 EFL Cup appearances with seven goals, 24 Champions League appearances with seven goals and 21 Europa League appearances with six goals.
Welbeck is right-footed and stands 1.85m tall. Chelsea’s latest addition arrives with a playing history that spans Manchester United, Arsenal, Watford and Brighton, as well as a record of 141 goals across the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Champions League and Europa League.
He has now begun the next stage of that career at Chelsea, with his new contract running through to the end of June 2028.
