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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

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Tom Ley

Lauren James #10 of Chelsea F.C. women crosses the ball during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on March 23, 2025.

Manchester City FC v Chelsea FC – Barclays Women’s Super League

Soccer

Chelsea And Manchester City Are Delivering The Goods

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton &amp; Hove Albion celebrates after he scored his side's first goal for 1-1 during the Premier League match between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC and Fulham FC at Amex Stadium on March 8, 2025 in Brighton, England.

Brighton & Hove Albion FC v Fulham FC – Premier League

The Premier League’s Tightest Race Is For Fifth Place

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Billy Haisley

Naomi Girma of Chelsea waves to the crowd as she is unveiled as a Chelsea player prior to the Barclays Women's Super League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on January 26, 2025 in London, England.

Chelsea FC  v Arsenal FC – Barclays Women’s Super League

Naomi Girma’s Move To Chelsea Is Ambition Incarnate

Moises Caicedo of Chelsea is fouled by Yves Bissouma of Tottenham Hotspur leading to a penalty which is scored by Cole Palmer of Chelsea to make it 2-2 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 08, 2024 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Chelsea FC – Premier League

Never Doubt Tottenham’s Inability To Capitalize On Chaos

West Ham United manager David Moyes (centre), first team coach Kevin Nolan (right) and player Michail Antonio (left) during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Sunday May 5, 2024.

Chelsea v West Ham United – Premier League – Stamford Bridge

The Game Has Once Again Passed David Moyes By

Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's third goal, his hat-trick, during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2024 in London, England.

Chelsea FC v Everton FC – Premier League

Cole Palmer Is Right Where He Needs To Be

Noni Madueke of Chelsea argues with Cole Palmer of Chelsea of Chelsea about taking the penalty during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2024 in London, England.

Chelsea Players Briefly Stop Embarrassing Everton In Order To Embarrass Themselves

Liverpool players including Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after winning the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024 in London, England.

Chelsea v Liverpool – Carabao Cup Final

These Pool Boys Became Pool Men

Malo Gusto of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on December 27, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Chelsea FC v Crystal Palace – Premier League

Chelsea Is Neither Here Nor There

Emma Hayes, Head Coach of Chelsea FC poses for a portrait during the UEFA Women's Champions League Official Portraits shoot on October 17, 2023 in Cobham, England.

emma-hayes

Emma Hayes Knows What American Soccer Needs

The LED board shows the VAR check which disallows a Tottenham Hotspur goal for offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 06, 2023 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC – Premier League

VAR Turned A Great Match Into The Worst And Weirdest Game Of The Season

Belgium's forward Eden Hazard celebrates during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on July 6, 2018.

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Eden Hazard Deserved A Better Ending

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Chelsea owner Todd Boehly gestures prior to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Chelsea FC v Real Madrid: Quarterfinal Second Leg – UEFA Champions League

What Should We Make Of Chelsea’s Reported Saudi Bailout?

Frank Lampard, Caretaker Manager of Chelsea, looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid v Chelsea FC: Quarterfinal First Leg – UEFA Champions League

Frank Lampard Is Just Here To Eat Chelsea’s Shit

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Enzo Fernandez of Argentina poses for a photo with the FIFA Young Player award during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. With WINDOW SHOPPING graphic.

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Window Shopping: Is Enzo Fernández Worth A Record-Breaking Transfer?

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Ray Ratto

ZAGREB, CROATIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea FC at Stadion Maksimir on September 06, 2022 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Dinamo Zagreb v Chelsea FC: Group E – UEFA Champions League

Thomas Tuchel Wore Out Another Welcome

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Patrick Redford

Leeds United's US midfielder Brenden Aaronson (R) celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Chelsea at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England, on August 21, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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Leeds United, America’s Premier League Team, Is Flying

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea speaks to the media after the Pre-Season Friendly match between Chelsea FC and Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on July 20, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Chelsea FC v Charlotte FC – Pre-Season Friendly

Please Keep Christian Pulisic Away From Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (R) and Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (L) shake hands then clash after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on August 14, 2022.

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Who Needs Goals When You’ve Got Managers Fighting?

Marc Cucurella of Brighton & Hove Albion in action during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux on April 30, 2022 in Wolverhampton, England.

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Window Shopping: Is It Cuckoo To Spend €65 Million On Marc Cucurella?

Jules Kounde of Sevilla crosses the ball during the LaLiga Santander match between Sevilla FC and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on December 18, 2021 in Seville, Spain.

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Window Shopping: Jules Koundé Could Be A Star, In The Right System

Romelu Lukaku of Belgium celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group B match between Belgium and Russia on June 12, 2021 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Belgium v Russia – UEFA Euro 2020: Group B

Inter Is Giving Us Our Romelu Lukaku Back

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Laura Wagner

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Richarlison of Everton celebrates with a flare after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on May 01, 2022 in Liverpool, England.

Everton v Chelsea – Premier League

Everton Made Desperation Work

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Owner Tom Ricketts of the Chicago Cubs is seen on the field before the Cubs take on the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on September 19, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

St Louis Cardinals  v Chicago Cubs

English Premier League

No Chelsea For The Rickettses

Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2022 in Madrid, Spain.

Chelsea