Veteran striker Danny Welbeck is poised to make a surprise move to Chelsea, with the 35-year-old understood to have agreed terms with the London club and scheduled a medical at Stamford Bridge.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward, who enjoyed a career-best season last term with 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances for Brighton, is expected to sign a two-year deal.

Following his medical, Welbeck will fly to Hong Kong to link up with his new teammates on the second leg of their pre-season tour.

This unexpected acquisition signals a potential shake-up in Chelsea's attacking ranks, raising questions over the futures of younger forwards Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson.

Delap, who had an unsuccessful debut campaign after a £30m move from Ipswich, now faces increased uncertainty, after finding himself behind Joao Pedro in the pecking order last season.

The Brazilian striker netted 15 league goals in 2025-26 and scored a nine-minute hat-trick in Tuesday’s 6-4 friendly win over Western Sydney Wanderers.

Meanwhile, Jackson, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, has also attracted interest from Aston Villa.

Welbeck's arrival marks a significant departure from Chelsea's recent transfer strategy, which has largely focused on recruiting young, unproven talent.

Under new manager Xabi Alonso, the club appears to be pivoting towards more established players, with Welbeck's extensive experience of over 400 Premier League appearances exemplifying this revised policy.

The move comes despite Welbeck having signed a 12-month contract extension with Brighton in March.

Chelsea's forward options also include Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha, acquired from sister club Strasbourg, and 20-year-old Marc Guiu, who has seen limited league action since his 2024 transfer from Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Chelsea also look set to sign England midfielder Jordan Henderson from Brentford as they continue to focus on adding more experience to their squad.

Former Liverpool captain Henderson turned 36 last month, and suffered a broken arm while celebrating England’s victory over Mexico at the World Cup, but is closing in on a switch to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea had also shown interest in Sunderland’s 33-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka earlier this summer, but he now looks set to stay at the Stadium of Light.