Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell: Uncertain Future for the Injured Left-Back Amid Competition and Transition

Chelsea’s left-back Ben Chilwell is uncertain about his future with the club due to ongoing injury issues that have hindered him throughout the 2023/24 season. Despite making only 21 appearances, including just 13 in the Premier League, the second time in four seasons he has missed a significant number of matches, Chilwell did captain Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

Chilwell joined Chelsea from Leicester City in a £45m deal in 2020 and initially played well. However, a ruptured cruciate ligament in November of the following year resulted in him missing the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery. He experienced further hamstring and knee issues during the 2022/23 season, which continued to sideline him during the 2023/24 campaign.

The combination of injuries, competition for his position, and a new perspective from manager Enzo Maresca has led to speculation about his future with the Blues. 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. Additionally, Levi Colwill has also featured on the left, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Chilwell’s role in the team.

The futures of Conor Gallagher and Trevor Chalobah are also uncertain at Chelsea. Gallagher is currently representing England at Euro 2024 but is out of contract next year and has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. The coming months will likely provide more clarity on their situations at Chelsea as well.

Despite these setbacks, Chilwell remains a talented player who could be an asset if he can stay healthy and perform at his best level consistently.