According to Ben Jacobs, 20-year-old England Under-20 goalkeeper Max Merrick has joined Hartlepool United on a season-long loan from Chelsea. This move follows Merrick signing a new contract with Chelsea in March, which secures his position at the club until the summer of 2028. Merrick has earned 2 caps for England's U20 side. During the 2025/2026 season, he made 29 appearances in Premier League 2 and 19 in the National League South.