Trevoh Chalobah celebrates scoring against West Ham.
Trevoh Chalobah has become a mainstay for Chelsea since being recalled from loan last January.
Form of former Crystal Palace loanee has been huge plus amid fan unrest at relentless recruitment of young players
Trevoh Chalobah appeared to be fighting a losing battle during the summer of 2024. He was exiled from the Chelsea first team, omitted from the pre-season tour and put up for sale. Being diplomatic, it was made very clear to Chalobah that he had no future at his boyhood club. A solution had to be found and one finally arrived when the defender joined Crystal Palace on a season’s loan on the last day of the transfer window.
Within a year, though, Chalobah was starting for Chelsea when they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final. It was quite the turnaround. Chalobah made his England debut last June. He is no stranger to being doubted. There were no guarantees he would make it at Chelsea when he was in the academy. Some anticipated a succession of loans followed by a sale, only for Chalobah to catch Thomas Tuchel’s eye and establish himself as a regular after scoring on his Premier League debut in a win over Palace at the start of 2021-22.
But it has rarely been straightforward. Although Chalobah was handed a new deal shortly after Chelsea were bought by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022, he has repeatedly had to prove himself. Shrugging off the arrivals of Axel Disasi and Benoît Badiashile in 2023, he held firm and impressed under Mauricio Pochettino. Still, though, Chelsea were unconvinced. There was a feeling Chalobah would have to leave after Tosin Adarabioyo joined on a free in June 2024.
Midway through last season, though, Chelsea had to own up to an error of judgment. Wesley Fofana was injured and Disasi was out of favour. After the club considered a move for another centre-back during the January transfer window, the decision was made to end Chalobah’s loan at Palace.
Twelve months on, it seems absurd that Chelsea ever gave serious consideration to selling Chalobah. He ended up thriving under Enzo Maresca, who put great store in defenders capable of playing out from the back. Chalobah was outstanding against PSG last summer, and his revival showed Chelsea that spending on shiny new toys does not always represent the best path to happiness.
Liam Rosenior, Maresca’s replacement as head coach, clearly appreciates Chalobah. When Rosenior rested the England international for the victory over Pafos on Wednesday it was because he wanted him fresh for Chelsea’s trip to Palace on Sunday.
Chalobah returns to Selhurst Park as the leader of Chelsea’s defence. Even then, though, it is hard to be certain about his future. Chalobah has two years on his deal, with the option of another 12 months, and it would not be out of character if Chelsea tried to cash in this summer. After all, they have not been shy to sell cherished academy players under this ownership. Mason Mount joined Manchester United after a contract impasse, Conor Gallagher is at Tottenham after a spell with Atlético Madrid and Lewis Hall joined Newcastle in 2023. Chalobah, at 26, is approaching his peak and probably at his most marketable.
The obvious calculation is that money received for academy players registers as pure profit, boosting the club’s profitability and sustainability position. Chelsea need ways to balance out their vast spending. Does the model allow them to think about starting talks over a new deal with Chalobah? Does it leave room for a solid professional who loves the club so much he refuses to leave even after being exiled?
Trevoh Chalobah playing for Crystal Palace
Trevoh Chalobah spent the first half of last season on loan at Sunday’s opponents, Crystal Palace, before being recalled by Chelsea.
It is a conundrum that drives at the heart of the growing dissatisfaction within Chelsea’s fanbase. Recent games have brought protests against Clearlake, the club’s majority owner. Fans feel disconnected. They have become numb to Chelsea’s relentless recruitment of young players. The reality is that there is a cost to the churn. How to make it pay?
There is, of course, nothing that suggests Chelsea plan to force Chalobah out. A review of the centre-back situation is planned this summer but it would make more sense to try to shift Badiashile, Disasi, Fofana and Adarabioyo first. Aarón Anselmino and Mamadou Sarr return from respective loans at Borussia Dortmund and Strasbourg this summer. Levi Colwill, Chelsea’s best defender, hopes to return from a knee injury before the end of the season.
Even so questions will have to be resolved soon. The homegrown stars are in intriguing positions. Away from Chalobah, something will have to be done about Reece James. The captain’s contract expires in two years but was agreed before Chelsea shifted towards handing out incentivised deals. Will James want to fit into the new structure? Or will the right-back think he can make more money elsewhere?
Chelsea must be careful. Colwill has three years left, plus the option of an extra year, and has been targeted by Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the past. The 19-year-old Josh Acheampong may wonder about his opportunities if Chelsea complete a deal for the 20-year-old Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet.
There are internal solutions. Culture matters. It is easy to underestimate the importance of someone such as Chalobah understanding what it means to be a Chelsea player. It is easier still not to appreciate the quality of the kid who has been around for ages. Sometimes, though, the answer to the problem is not to bring in another exciting youngster from abroad. Chalobah’s resurgence is proof that Chelsea can look within for answers.