Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea from Leicester City to take charge of the men's team ahead of the 2024/25 season and, after settling at Cobham with his staff, was working with his new squad at our training ground for the first time on Monday.

Several senior members of the squad were back for the first day of pre-season training, including Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson, Mykhailo Mudryk and Raheem Sterling, while there was a first chance for summer signings Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman to get to know their Chelsea team-mates.

There was also the welcome sight of a number of players back out on the training pitch following an injury-hit 2023/24, with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku hoping to build their fitness ahead of the new season.

Not everyone was back, though, with some younger Blues from our Academy stepping in with the senior side in the absence of the majority of internationals, who will return to training later due to their involvement in this year's European Championship or Copa America, both of which conclude this weekend.

As is custom on the first day of pre-season, the morning was taken up with a series of medical and fitness tests as Maresca and his staff evaluate the condition of their returning squad following the summer break, before the Italian coach led his first Chelsea training in a late session this afternoon.

That kicked off our preparations with six weeks to get into top shape before our season opener at Stamford Bridge against Manchester City on Sunday 18 August. 2024/25 starts here!