What does Chelsea gain by signing the "old man" Welbeck?

The acquisition of a 35-year-old frontman such as Danny Welbeck appears to be an unexpected move by Chelsea. But Xabi Alonso identifies in the ex-Man United striker the attributes the squad is missing: experience, linking play, and clinical finishing in the penalty area to boost their offensive line this campaign.

This is the seventh consecutive summer that Chelsea has been searching for a center-forward, but Alonso is approaching the problem in a completely different way. In the summers of 2020 and 2021, the Stamford Bridge club respectively signed established European names Kai Havertz from Leverkusen and Romelu Lukaku from Napoli. In the three most recent transfer windows, Chelsea shifted focus to high-potential strikers like Nicolas Jackson (2023), Marc Guiu (2024), and Liam Delap (2025). Welbeck is therefore a completely different choice.

The older the ginger, the spicier it gets.

So what will Welbeck bring to Chelsea? The numbers show that age has not diminished the goal-scoring instinct of the 1990-born striker. In two seasons under Fabian Hurzeler, he scored 25 goals in 76 appearances, only slightly less than his record of 29 goals in 142 games during his seven seasons at Manchester United from 2007 to 2015.

In Hurzeler's eyes, Welbeck's value goes beyond goals: "Welbeck is not only good at scoring but also knows how to position himself and connect with teammates. I think he can help any team he plays for, even the England national team."

In the context of modern football increasingly favoring number 10s or deep-lying center-forwards, Welbeck remains a typical representative of the classic target man. His strength lies in converting chances inside the box thanks to intelligent positioning. The former Manchester United striker finishes well with both feet and in the air. The equalizer against Chelsea last September was a clear example: Welbeck moved into the blind spot of the opposing defense, accelerated to meet Minteh's cross, and then beat goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Reuniting with Joao Pedro at Chelsea.

If the deal between Brighton and Chelsea is completed, Welbeck will have the chance to reunite with Joao Pedro. The duo formed a strong partnership in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons before Pedro moved to Chelsea for a fee of £60 million. That combination once reminded of the link-up between Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson in a Chelsea shirt.

Among the center-forwards Alonso currently has, Joao Pedro remains the most reliable option. Last season, he became the first Chelsea player to score at least 15 goals from open play since Tammy Abraham six years ago. That record could certainly be improved if Pedro partners with an experienced and collaborative teammate like Welbeck.

What Chelsea expects most from Welbeck is his top-level experience. The striker has won the Premier League twice with Manchester United, spent six years at Old Trafford, five years at Arsenal, and scored 16 goals in 42 appearances for England. That is enough for him to become a mentor and support for Chelsea's young forwards in both training and matches. Although he has turned 35, Welbeck still maintains intelligent movement, with fewer offside calls in the last three seasons than Nicolas Jackson in 2024-25, while his fouls committed are nearly half of Liam Delap's last season.

However, Chelsea also needs to consider Welbeck's fairly extensive injury history, including hamstring, ankle, and knee issues. Hurzeler's sensible management allowed the English striker to start 26 of 37 Premier League matches last season. Alonso will also have to manage Welbeck's physical condition carefully if he wants this deal to be effective. Although it goes against the policy of prioritizing young players under Todd Boehly, Welbeck could well become the "Thiago Silva of Chelsea's attack" if used correctly.