Premier League 2024-25 Betting Guide: Chelsea

Enzo Maresca became Chelsea's fifth manager since the Todd Boehly era began in May 2022. The appointment followed a difficult season for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino last year, though they did improve during the latter stages. Will the West Londoners fare better in 2024/25?

We take a closer look at their prospects to find the value across the betting markets below. 

How did Chelsea perform in 2023-24?

After a torrid start to life under Pochettino, Chelsea began to show signs of promise down the stretch of last season. Eventually finishing in sixth, the Blues secured qualification for the Europa Conference League and narrowly missed out on Europa League football. 

Nevertheless, the season ended with Pochettino leaving the club by mutual consent. Former Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca now sits in the Chelsea hot-seat after navigating the Foxes' Championship-winning season last term. 

The undoubted star in a bleak Chelsea campaign was the signing of Cole Palmer. The former Manchester City forward ended with a stunning 25 goals to his name in all competitions, making him the club's highest-scoring player. Palmer also had the most assists, boasting an impressive 15 in his maiden season for the Blues.

Chelsea's odds ahead of 2024-25

Chelsea to finish in the top four - 6/4 (General)

Chelsea to finish outside the top six - 7/4 (William Hill)

Chelsea to finish in the top half - 1/9 (General)

Chelsea to finish in the bottom half - 10/1 (General)

Maresca is now the fifth Chelsea manager since May 2022. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Chelsea key summer transfer business

Incomings

Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham, free)

Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa, £19m)

Armando Broja (Loan recall)

Marc Guiu (Barcelona, £5m)

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City, £30m)

Renato Viega (Basel, £12m)

Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United, £8.6m)

Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors, £15m)

Pedro Neto (Wolves, £54m)

Outgoings

Thiago Silva (Released)

Charlie Webster (Burton Albion, free)

Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Doncaster Rovers, loan)

Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray, free)

Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa, £35m)

Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town, £18m)

Chinonso Chibueze (Stoke City, free)

Michael Golding (Leicester City, £4m)

Jamie Cumming (Oxford United, free)

Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors, loan)

Eddie Beach (Crawley Town, loan)

Caleb Wiley (Strasbourg, loan)

Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has followed Maresca from Leicester to Stamford Bridge. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

What our Chelsea expert says

Gavin Glicksman (GavGlicksman): After an underwhelming build-up, Chelsea fans may be in for a hard season watching a team unable to deliver the goods on a regular basis. 

Mauricio Pochettino's reign ended after just one season but his achievement of finishing sixth in the Premier League and runners-up in the Carabao Cup could be hard to top. The club’s chaotic recruitment policy left Poch battling to get players with little experience to gel and new boss Enzo Maresca must now do the same without the evergreen Thiago Silva to lean on.

Cole Palmer hit the ground running in 2023-24 and Maresca will need the England international to continue the red-hot form that saw him net 22 goals and provide 11 assists in the league.

But the Italian's insistence on playing out from the back is likely to result in costly mistakes, particularly with lingering question marks over his defence and the lack of a top-class keeper.

Injuries robbed the Blues of the best of skipper Reece James and attacker Christopher Nkunku last term and it will be interesting to see whether the duo can remain fit throughout the campaign. James, however, must wait for his chance to impress under Maresca as he serves a four-match ban for a red card at Brighton.

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez need to shine week in, week out in Maresca's engine room but doubts remain as to whether they can form the successful partnership required to help Chelsea challenge for a top-four finish.  

The jury is out.

Cole Palmer shone in Chelsea colours last term, netting 22 goals in the Premier League. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

What to expect from Chelsea in 2024-25

The first two seasons of the Todd Boehly era have been difficult to endure for Chelsea fans. The Blues meandered to a dismal 12th-placed finish in 2022-23 before finishing sixth last season, largely thanks to a late resurgence in the final weeks of the campaign. 

Mauricio Pochettino's departure came at a time when the club looked to finally be picking up steam but have now been forced to reset once again under Maresca. 

The Italian's sole season in English football saw him clinch the Championship title with Leicester City last season. Maresca enters a fractious environment at Stamford Bridge though, with an ever-growing divide between fans and the ownership. 

The Chelsea faithful are hardly enamoured with the playing squad too, given the events of the previous two seasons. Matching the sixth-place finish from 2023-24 would therefore be a respectable achievement in Maresca's first season...providing he's able to avoid the axe before its conclusion in May. 

In reality, the Chelsea manager revolving door may swing again as the club continues to plunder in the Todd Boehly era.

Odds Now's Best Bets for Chelsea in 2024-25

Chelsea to finish outside the top six @ 7/4 (William Hill)