As the 2023/24 season came to a close, Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell found himself facing an uncertain future at the club. A series of injuries had hindered his performance throughout the season, limiting his appearances to just 21 games, with only 13 in the Premier League. This was the second time in four seasons that he had missed a significant number of matches, leaving many to question his future with the Blues.
Chilwell joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2020 for £45m and quickly became a fan favorite due to his impressive play. However, a ruptured cruciate ligament in November of the following year forced him to miss out on the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. He then suffered further hamstring and knee issues during the 2022/23 season, which continued to keep him out of action during the current campaign. Despite these setbacks, Chilwell did captain Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool in February.
The 27-year-old is currently under contract with Chelsea until 2027, but there are doubts about his future under new manager Enzo Maresca’s leadership. With Ian Maatsen likely departing for Aston Villa and Marc Cucurella performing well for Spain at Euro 2024, there is competition for Chilwell’s position on the left side of defense. Additionally, Levi Colwill has also featured on the left, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Chilwell’s role in the team.
Chelsea also faces questions about the futures of other young players such as Conor Gallagher and Trevor Chalobah. Gallagher is currently representing England at Euro 2024 but is out of contract next year and has been linked with moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Chalobah has impressed in midfield but may struggle to secure a regular starting place as Kai Havertz continues to thrive in that position. The coming months will likely provide more clarity on these situations as Maresca evaluates his squad and makes decisions about their futures at Chelsea.
In conclusion, while Ben Chilwell’s time at Chelsea remains uncertain due to ongoing injury issues and increased competition for his position on the left side of defense, he still has much potential if he can stay healthy enough to play consistently throughout next season or beyond. The futures of other young players such as Conor Gallagher and Trevor Chalobah are also up in