Ahead of the start of the men’s football tournament at the Olympic Games, Sports Mole takes a look which Chelsea players will participate in Paris.
Chelsea have just seen a wide array of their first-team squad spend time at Euro 2024 and Copa America, some being prevented from taking their summer break for longer than others.
Those respective tournaments concluded on Sunday, with Spain defender Marc Cucurella, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez and England playmaker Cole Palmer going the distance.
Like their rivals around Europe, Chelsea have been vulnerable to nations calling their players up to feature in the upcoming Olympic Games.
However, with the tournament not being regulated by FIFA, clubs have had the power to make the decision over whether to allow their squad members to represent their countries.
Of all the teams in question, Chelsea have arguably been the most ruthless. It is common knowledge that Fernandez was stopped from appearing for Argentina.
Reports have also indicated that the likes of Malo Gusto and Benoit Badiashile had been in line for a France call-up, only for the Premier League outfit to decide otherwise.
Lesley Ugochukwu is currently one of four reserves for Les Bleus, the West Londoners seemingly of the opinion that the young midfielder would have benefitted from the regular game time.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at the solitary Chelsea player that will be present in France over the coming weeks.
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Gabriel Slonina may have been playing regular senior football since 2021, but the USA goalkeeper is still only 20 years of age.
With only three players allowed to be over 23, and with USA having recently competed in the Copa America, it meant that he was a guaranteed pick for the Stars and Stripes.
Slonina is yet to make a senior appearance for Chelsea since being signed in a deal which could reach $11m in August 2022.
Nevertheless, a combined total of 77 outings have been made for Chicago Fire and Eupen, Slonina playing a full season in the Belgian top flight in 2023-24.
He will now compete with Columbus Crew stopper Patrick Schulte for the number-one jersey.