Pride of London’s Player of the Month for January 2025

Chelsea looked poised to mount a serious title challenge in mid-December 2024, sitting second in the Premier League table. However, just over a month later, the landscape has shifted dramatically, with the Blues now entrenched in a battle for a top-four finish. A downturn in form since the goalless draw against Everton has carried into the new year, as Chelsea endured a difficult January, securing just one win in four league matches. While a 5-0 victory over Morecambe in the FA Cup third round provided a brief reprieve, the win came against a struggling League Two side and was expected.

Identifying a standout performer for Chelsea’s January campaign is no easy task, given the overall dip in performances. Even Cole Palmer, who has often been the driving force behind the team’s success, experienced a subdued month, registering just two goals. The Blues’ most convincing display came in the FA Cup rout of Morecambe, though the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite its importance, did little to mask the team’s broader struggles.

Amidst an underwhelming month, an unexpected candidate emerged as Pride of London's Chelsea Player of the Month for January: Tosin Adarabioyo. The center-back not only delivered a series of commanding defensive performances but also ended the month as Chelsea’s top scorer with three goals—a remarkable feat given the struggles of the attacking unit.

Adarabioyo’s impact extended beyond just his goal tally. With Chelsea locked in a goalless deadlock against Morecambe approaching halftime, the defender seized the initiative, unleashing a long-range strike that deflected past the goalkeeper to give the Blues the lead. The breakthrough set the tone for the remainder of the match, as Chelsea added four more goals in a dominant second half. Adarabioyo was not done, however, as he later produced an even more stunning effort, curling a long-range strike into the far corner—a finish any striker would envy.

His contributions carried over into Premier League action as well. In Chelsea’s lone league victory of the month against Wolves, Adarabioyo once again broke the deadlock, reacting quickly to a loose ball in the box following a Reece James strike. At a time when Chelsea’s forwards have struggled to find the net, the defender’s goals have been invaluable in keeping the team competitive.

While Chelsea will undoubtedly hope their attacking unit regains its form in the coming weeks, Adarabioyo’s performances have provided a much-needed boost. With key Premier League fixtures and an FA Cup tie on the horizon in February, the Blues must rediscover their attacking edge if they are to maintain their aspirations for a top-four finish.