Josh Hart has been going through a range of emotions in the last 24 hours. From fearing Team USA’s fate in the Serbia game to celebrating their thrilling comeback, then trolling his Knicks teammate Mikal Bridges, and reacting to NBA Christmas Day fixtures, Hart was on a rollercoaster of emotions.

After expressing his passion for everything he loves about basketball, Hart’s attention turned towards his love for soccer, especially Chelsea FC. The 29-year-old has been a die-hard supporter of the London-based soccer club and with Chelsea making its off-season move again, the forward was seemingly in dismay.

This came after famed soccer insider Fabrizio Romano announced Chelsea’s interest in Pedro Neto, a Portuguese winger playing for Wolves (yes they have one too). According to the report, the club is ready to offer £60 million ($76.6 million) for the transfer adding to the over £1bn ($1.26bn) spending of Chelsea under owner, Todd Boehly since 2022. Hart made his feelings known by posting on X, as he wrote, “Give us a transfer ban please.” The move is yet to be confirmed officially but Chelsea have reportedly agreed personal terms with Neto and his agent.

Despite the massive spending, Chelsea were unsuccessful in their bid to secure the English Premier League title under Boehly’s ownership. The club has acquired numerous players in the past two years with most of the signings failing to deliver, compared to their massive price tag. The influx of talents in the squad has had a destabilizing effect and to stop that chain of failure, Hart is making the plea.

Josh Hart’s love for Chelsea FC

Josh Hart made his love for Chelsea a public knowledge after sporting the club’s blue kit in 2018. In 2020, he even visited Stamford Bridge the club’s home ground in London with his wife, Shannon Hart. Again in 2022, the Knicks’ star visited the stadium and posed with then-Chelsea star, Mason Mount before the Blues played against Watford. The former Villanova forward also donated nearly $2,500 to a fan group to help fund banners for Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta later that year with a message, “KTBFFH”, the club’s slogan “Keep the blue flag flying high.”

Hart showed his support for Chelsea through his ‘LightHarted’ podcast as well. In an episode in 2019, he invited Romelu Lukaku and discussed the player’s Chelsea stint. At that time, Lukaku played for Inter Milan (no, not linked with Inter Miami), after leaving Chelsea.

Before Boehly took over Chelsea in 2022, Josh Hart even expressed his wish to buy the club. Chelsea’s previous owner, Roman Abramovich confirmed in March 2022 that he wished to sell the club, after which Larry Nance, Hart’s Pelicans teammate mentioned him in an X post, asking, “Yo @joshhart how big of a loan you think we could get,” to which the forward replied, “Man I’m willing to sell my soul.”

Hart has been vocal during Chelsea’s game days and one can hope for that to continue in the next season as well, starting on August 18.