An exiled Chelsea star is set for a surprise return to the first-team fold after finding himself surplus to requirements.
The Blues offloaded 16 players on permanent deals in the summer transfer window, including the likes of Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Ben Chilwell, who departed to partner club RC Strasbourg on a free transfer.
Nicolas Jackson, Mamadou Sarr, Kendry Paez and David Datro Fofana were among those loaned out by the Conference League winners.
However, one man who did not secure a move away despite not having a future at the club was Axel Disasi.
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The Frenchman, a £38.5 million signing from Monaco in 2023, spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa and was unwanted upon his return to Stamford Bridge.
Despite links to Sunderland, West Ham and Bournemouth, he stayed put beyond the transfer deadline as he preferred to move abroad.
Placed in the bomb squad and training alone or with fellow outcast Raheem Sterling, he had been playing for the club's Under 21 side in recent times, captaining the team in a Premier League 2 win over Reading.
And in a shock turn of events, according to Sky Sports, Disasi is poised to be re-integrated into the first-team set-up.
A picture on social media showed Disasi back in training and competing with Liam Delap during the international break, with journalist Kaveh Solhekol reporting: "We've been getting information that he's been training really well and Chelsea have been impressed by his attitude. And on Saturday, out of the blue, he captained Chelsea's Under 21 side.
"We told you a couple of days ago that he was going to be re-integrated back into the Chelsea first-team squad and that's exactly what's happened today because he's trained at Cobham with the first-team. And I think between now and January, he'll probably play for the Chelsea first-team."
Chelsea cannot field returning star in Premier League
Chelsea are in need of extra cover in central defence with injuries to Levi Colwill and Benoit Badashille and Disasi will provide just that, with football.london reporting that the club have been pleased with how he has behaved and interacted with the young players.
However, Disasi cannot feature in the Premier League until at least the start of 2026 as he was not named in Enzo Maresca's 25-man Premier League squad and is not a homegrown or Under 21 player.
Similarly, he was not included in the Champions League squad back in September.
He would be in contention for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Cardiff City and any FA Cup fixtures.
Chelsea return to action on Saturday when they travel to Burnley, before hosting Barcelona in the Champions League.
Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Enzo Maresca
Josh Lawless