Seattle's about to come down with a case of the Blues.
A group of 25 Chelsea FC players departed on Saturday en route to Seattle, where they will kick off the 2012 Herbalife World Football Challenge on Wednesday, July 18, against the Seattle Sounders. A week later they will face the best of MLS in the AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
According to Chelsea's official site, UEFA Champions League heroes including goalkeeper Peter Cech, defender Gary Cahill and Brazilian midfielder Ramires will lead a large group which also includes three new additions: Kevin De Bruyne, Marko Marin and Eden Hazard.
Five Euro 2012 participants — Ashley Cole (England), John Terry (England), Florent Malouda (France), Raul Meireles (Portugal) and Fernando Torres (Spain) — will join the group during the US tour.
Meanwhile, Ryan Bertrand, Daniel Sturridge, Oriol Romeu and Spaniard Juan Mata are preparing to participate with their respective nations in the London Olympics.
CHELSEA FC TRAVEL ROSTER
Goalkeepers (4): Peter Cech, Ross Turbull, Henrique Hilário, Jamal Blackman
Defenders (9): Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, John Terry, David Luiz, Paulo Ferreira, Gary Cahill, Sam Hutchinson, Todd Kane, Nathaniel Chalobah
Midfielders (11): Michael Essien, Ramires, Flourent Malouda, Raul Meireles, Frank Lampard, John Mikel Obi, Eden Hazard, Marko Marin, Yossi Benayoun, Josh McEachran, George Saville
Forwards (6): Gael Kakuta, Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Lucas Piazon, Patrick Bamford
= indicates players who will join the team during US tour
