Man City’s Grealish and Chelsea quartet miss out on Club World Cup

Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell have been left out of Chelsea’s squad for the Fifa Club World Cup, while Jack Grealish has not been selected by Manchester City.

England forward Grealish was expected to miss out, with the 29-year-old having started just seven league games in 2024-25.

City’s 27-man squad also does not include former captain Kyle Walker, who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, but features England defender John Stones, who has not played since February with a thigh injury.

Chelsea’s 28-man group does not feature a quartet which cost them about £179m in transfer fees and all ended last season out on loan.

The first edition of the expanded Club World Cup format begins in the United States on Sunday, 15 June (01:00 BST).

Sterling cost £50m when he arrived from Manchester City in 2022, but the 30-year-old England forward spent last season on loan with Arsenal, starting just 13 games and scoring once.

The Blues paid £38.5m to sign Axel Disasi from Monaco in 2023 and the 27-year-old France defender played 17 games last term before ending the season on loan with Aston Villa.

Chilwell was a £45m signing in 2020 and, after just one Chelsea game last term, the England left-back, 28, spent the rest of the season with Crystal Palace, being an unused substitute in the Eagles’ FA Cup final win over Manchester City.

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Gaga Slonina.

Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Mamadou Sarr, Moises Caicedo, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Aaron Anselmino, Josh Acheampong.

Midfielders: Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Romeo Lavia.

Grealish’s future is unclear as he has struggled for regular playing time with Manchester City over the past two seasons.

Pep Guardiola’s side have also signed midfielders Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki this week, along with left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and keeper Marcus Bettinelli, and all will travel to America.

Stones, 31, will return to action despite missing international duty with England over the weekend, and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, 28, will continue his comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in September.

Goalkeepers: Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Marcus Bettinelli.

Defenders: Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis.

Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders, Jeremy Doku, Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Savinho, Matheus Nunes, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Nico O’Reilly.