Fikayo Tomori has undoubtedly had one of the strangest Chelsea careers in recent memory, so let’s walk through his past, present and future.
“We’ve got Super Frankie Lampard, he knows just what we need, Tomori at the back, Tammy in attack, Chelsea’s gonna win the Champions League!” Chances are, if you watched or attended a match before last March, you’ve heard this now famous anthem during Blues matches. Between the song and his renowned goal at Wolves, Fikayo Tomori’s name will forever be etched in the Chelsea history books as being involved in a few of the most well known events during Frank Lampard’s first season in charge.
Tomori’s first team career began as well as any of his teammates, if not better. He was a staple in Lampard’s four-man defense and the Blues were exceeding expectations with he, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and others leading the charge. However, as the season turned a corner in December, the English centerback was left in the dust. Since then, he’s only appeared in a handful of matches—despite some serious defensive struggles toward the end of last season—and the road ahead is rather hazy. We may never learn more about what transpired between Tomori and the powers that be at the club, but one thing we do know now is a bit more about his future.
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Many seemed to believe that after Andreas Christensen was ruled out for the latest FA Cup bout against League Two side Morecambe, it would be Tomori who would step in and save the day in central defense. Instead, Lampard opted to partner Kurt Zouma with Antonio Rudiger, leaving Tomori to seemingly rot on the bench. The 23-year-old did come on as a substitute though, earning his first minutes since playing against Tottenham on September 29. It was later revealed that Tomori didn’t start the match because he’s being lined up for a loan move.
Tomori was believed to be leaving the club on loan before the conclusion of the summer transfer window, but for one reason or another, he stayed put. He’s sat idly by, playing just 235′ since the start of the season, while Chelsea loanees like Malang Sarr and Marc Guehi earn valuable minutes at other clubs. Even though this loan seems too little too late, as his short-term development has already been halted, it’s still a great chance for Tomori to jumpstart his career again. The former Derby County player of the year has three-and-a-half years remaining on his Chelsea contract, but that’s all seemingly useless if he isn’t going to get minutes with the first team.
There have been rumors that Tomori will ultimately seek a move away from Stamford Bridge if his playing time does not increase. Seeing as three of the four centerbacks in front of him could potentially be in SW6 for awhile, that may be what it comes down to. Zouma has established himself as one of the best centerbacks alongside generational talent Thiago Silva. Christensen has struggled lately, but remains ahead of Tomori in the pecking order and is just one-year older. Rudiger’s future is up in the air as well, although he too gets the nod over Tomori regularly. While it would be unfortunate to see Tomori leave permanently, one cannot blame him considering he’s nearing the prime of his career and has little to show for it lately.
He’s one of the most talented young centerhalves in England and luckily for him, there will be no shortage of suitors whenever he does depart. Tomori attracted some large clubs in the summer, ones that will likely still be hanging around waiting for any update on his situation. Teams like Rennes and Everton were lining up to woo him, and they are surely still sniffing. It now becomes a question of “will Tomori ever play for the Blues again?” as opposed to “will Tomori be a successful defender?” His 10-minute cameo may end up being trivial knowledge one day as it may signify the end of his 16-year Chelsea career. Although it seems rather somber to imagine, it’s a lot more realistic than some may care to admit.
Tomori will be a successful footballer, the uncertainty is where he will perfect his craft. Chelsea’s relationship with its long-time prospect may be beyond reparable at this point, but the Blues have mended nastier relationships in the past.