Levi Colwill has only recently returned to full fitness, but Xabi Alonso has already handed the defender one of the biggest responsibilities available at Chelsea.
The 23-year-old has captained the Blues twice this season, leading the side against Brighton and Leeds United when Reece James was left out of the starting XI.
James remains Chelsea’s first-choice captain, but Alonso’s willingness to give Colwill the armband so early in his comeback offers a significant clue about how highly the head coach values him.
It also comes at an important moment for Chelsea’s leadership group.
Enzo Fernandez’s £125million move to Manchester City removed another senior voice from the dressing room, leaving greater responsibility available for players such as Colwill to assume.
Colwill handed major Chelsea responsibility
Colwill has made four appearances across all competitions this season after an injury-hit 2025/26 campaign.
That makes his two captaincy appearances particularly striking.
Alonso could have turned towards more experienced members of his starting XI, but instead trusted a player developed through Chelsea’s academy and still only approaching the prime years of his career.
Fraizer Campbell believes that responsibility represents the natural next step for his former Huddersfield Town teammate.
Speaking in a fresh Football.London interview, Campbell recalled Colwill’s early senior development and challenged him to become somebody Chelsea’s younger players can depend upon.
“The next step for him is becoming that leader on the pitch,” Campbell said, adding that teammates must be able to lean on Colwill when matches become difficult.
Campbell played alongside the defender during his loan spell at Huddersfield, where Colwill first gained regular exposure to senior football.
Alonso’s Colwill faith goes beyond the armband
The captaincy decisions fit with Alonso’s wider assessment of Colwill.
Chelsea managed his recovery carefully before giving him a full pre-season, something the defender has previously discussed when explaining the demands Alonso placed on him during his comeback.
That uninterrupted preparation has allowed Colwill to rebuild the physical foundation needed to compete regularly again.
Alonso has been emphatic about the defender’s ceiling.
The Chelsea boss previously described Colwill as one of the best centre-backs in the world when fully fit, praising his composure, presence and dominance before declaring him a key part of his plans.
ReadChelsea examined those comments in greater detail when Alonso made his huge Colwill prediction earlier this season.
The armband now provides evidence that his importance extends beyond defending.
Could Colwill become Chelsea’s future captain?
Nothing about Alonso’s choices diminishes James’ position.
But Chelsea need more than one leader, particularly within a young squad and after several experienced players left during the summer.
Colwill offers an obvious candidate.
He knows the academy, has experienced loan football away from Stamford Bridge and is now being trusted to organise Alonso’s defence at Premier League level.
The next challenge is consistency.
Campbell believes Colwill must become the player teammates look towards when Chelsea are under pressure. Alonso’s team selections suggest he believes the defender has the personality to do exactly that.
Chelsea have not named their next captain.
But Alonso is already providing clues about who could eventually be in the conversation.
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