As Gareth Southgate and the England National team seek to go deep in the World Cup, the 23-year-old Chelsea defender watches on wondering what else he could have done to make the team. Trevoh Chalobah emerged on the scene at CFC right at the beginning of last season, making his debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal, and netting a goal in his Premier League entrance against Crystal Palace. The emotion on Chelsea’s No. 14 when the ball hit the back of the net at Stamford Bridge said it all.
To make it out of the Blues’ academy, and become a regular in the Blues team is something very few players can say they have accomplished. During the summer transfer window, the new ownership group made it clear that centerback would be one of if not the biggest priority with the loss of two of them to La Liga sides. Chalobah looked to be going out on loan somewhere in the Premier League, like Levi Colwill, but when injuries presented themselves, Chalobah was given a chance to prove his quality against some of the world’s top oppositions.
With the English youngster secured long-term, Chalobah expressed his joy for staying in west London
"“I’m over the moon to sign this contract. It’s been an honor every time I put the shirt on. I want to give my all and do anything for this club…As everyone knows I’ve been here from a young age and to continue here is every kid’s dream. Whenever I get the chance, I’ll give my all for the club and look for the future ahead. I want to say thanks to God for this, without Him none of this would be possible. And just always believing. Thanks to my family as well and the club for trusting in me. I’ll now continue to give my all.”"
With the addition of Wesley Fofana and the 31-year-old former Napoli defender, Kalidou Koulibaly in the center of the defense, it was evident that Chelsea was again turning to its usual tactic of spending money elsewhere when the quality is right in front of it at the club. Chalobah was running an astounding 31 games unbeaten in a Chelsea kit as a starter until Brighton and Hove Albion overran the Blues’ defense in the Premier League en route to a 4-1 victory behind two own goals. So far this season, Chalobah has started in 12 out of the 13 contests he has played in, and is second on the team in clearances, behind only Thiago Silva while making a total of no errors in his 1,111 minutes played.
He may not be someone who has some of the most glaring stats at the end of each match, but the fact that Chalobah has been so solid in the back, and battling against some of the best attackers in the game makes him one of the most valuable pieces for the Blues heading into the foreseeable future. Koulibaly and Silva cannot play at a high level forever, and while it may seem right now that Silva has the talent to defy father time, there is going to become a day when his age simply catches up to him. 43 appearances through just 18 months at the senior level for Chalobah, and as he continues to get more used to playing top-level football, there is no telling what the ceiling could possibly be.
Even as an opposition fan, it is hard not to root for someone like Chalobah. The Blues let go of Fikayo Tomori just a few years ago, and he has grown into one of the best centerbacks in the world. Everyone in the academy system should be looking at the Freetown, Sierra Leone-born man as an example of what is possible if you take the opportunity in front of you. Chelsea even tried multiple times to move him out of favor for no good reason, but when that chance did come up against AC Milan at Stamford Bridge, he put together an outing in the back that convinced Graham Potter to give him consistent minutes.
Earlier on in the season, Chalobah was one of the key contributors to the Blues’ six-game clean sheet streak, coming into the lineup for Fofana, and filling the gap seamlessly. He has played 90 minutes in 10 out of the last 11 matches for Chelsea in all competitions, and to have a player this young locked up until at least 2028 assures the right side of the defense along with Reece James is going to be one to keep your eyes on for years to come. The former personifies the words, “never give up”. He demonstrated to the club that with the right mentality, and a determination to help the team in any way you can, success is bound to follow right behind you.
There are few players on this CFC roster at the moment that deserve an extension more than the defender for what he has done to make it at the senior level. When the World Cup concludes, the Blues are going to be under a lot of pressure to succeed right out of the gate, and with the fact that he is not participating in the festivities in Qatar, there is no question, Chalobah is going to be ready to go from the opening whistle against Bournemouth on December 27.