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Chelsea’s future, Norwich’s present: What next for Billy Gilmour?

By Akshat Mehrish

Morecambe's English midfielder Adam Phillips (R) challenges Chelsea's Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (L) during the English FA Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Morecambe at Stamford Bridge in London on January 10, 2021. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Morecambe's English midfielder Adam Phillips (R) challenges Chelsea's Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (L) during the English FA Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Morecambe at Stamford Bridge in London on January 10, 2021. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) and Chelsea’s Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (L) celebrate on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 8, 2021. – Chelsea won the game 2-1. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) and Chelsea’s Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (L) celebrate on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 8, 2021. – Chelsea won the game 2-1. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea produces and coaches young talent in abundance, so much so that most go through the production line without ever seeing the pitch at Stamford Bridge. Some are given minutes in dead-rubber situations; few get to start a full match for the club. This refining process continues until the best remain—the creme de la creme. Even then, it takes a moment of true genius to identify the one out of thousands who has what it takes to pull on the iconic—and equally demanding—blue shirt.

Billy Gilmour’s moment arrived in the 86′ of a FA Cup tie against Liverpool. The Scotsman, who had barely put a foot wrong up until that point, sent his experienced counterpart Fabinho the wrong way with a bit of skill before playing pin-point, defense-splitting pass to Olivier Giroud. The youngster took home the Man of the Match award following that Chelsea win; later that night, social media was abuzz with the name Gilmour. Who is that guy? Where did he come from?

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Two years have passed since Gilmour’s extraordinary showing against Liverpool. The Scotsman is no longer an unfamiliar name to the football fraternity. His reputation has grown, as have the expectations that come with it. The midfielder will start the 2021/22 season at Norwich City, but what lies beyond?

The past and the future

Gilmour is an outsider; he did not come through the Chelsea ranks, rather he joined the club as a 16-year-old from Rangers in 2017. Nonetheless, he did spend two years playing with the Chelsea youth and development teams, all under the watchful eyes of the powers that be at Cobham.

Frank Lampard’s arrival back at the club coincided with a transfer ban, and the Englishman was forced to look inwards for personnel. Gilmour was among those who benefited most from the peculiar situation, but it wasn’t until the latter half of the season when the youngster really started showing his talent. However, COVID engulfed the world just as he was beginning to cement his place in the starting XI for Chelsea.

Gilmour made 11 appearances in his first full season with the Chelsea senior team and 11 more in the subsequent season under Lampard and Thomas Tuchel. A first international tournament beckoned at the end of a fantastic two-year spell, as did the promise of regular game time, albeit not at Chelsea. Norwich City, on paper, seems like a good place for Gilmour to spend his maiden loan at. The promise of regular minutes is encouraging, as is the fact that Norwich tries to play proactive, attacking football. Gilmour will get plenty of time on the ball in the middle of the pitch, and subsequently, the opportunity to pick locks in the opposition defense from deep. He will also be asked much more defensively than he would’ve been had he stayed at Chelsea.

It will be an interesting proposition, watching Gilmour week-in, week-out for a Premier League outfit. All involved with Chelsea have high hopes with the Scotsman, whom they hope can anchor the midfield for the next decade.

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