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True Blue: Renaissance man Trevoh Chalobah is Chelsea through and through
Trevoh Chalobah is set to represent Chelsea at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup but he faced an uncertain future after being sent out on a season-long loan to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace last summer.
Fast forward almost a year, though, and the homegrown defender appears ripe for a central role in the Blues’ bid to win the FIFA Club World Cup in the US, with every game free to watch live on DAZN.
Chelsea’s very own ‘Renaissance Man’ has enjoyed a fine second half of the campaign after being recalled to the club he joined as an eight-year-old in January.
Not only did Chalobah help Enzo Maresca’s side to qualify for the Champions League and win the Conference League, he also earned inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, his first call-up at senior level.
“Trevoh has stepped up massively since he went back to Chelsea,” Tuchel said of the 25-year-old in late May.
“In the last month, especially, he has had a major contribution to their run, he has been on of their most consistent and best defenders. He deserves his call-up.”
Chalobah played the full 90 minutes as Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League, beat Real Betis 4-1 in Poland on May 28 to complete an unprecedented clean sweep of European club trophies.
But as the 2024-25 season got underway, Chalobah was deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
He trained separately from the first team in a group nicknamed ‘the bomb squad’, a dozen players unwanted by Maresca which included England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell.
The signs appeared ominous for Chalobah when Maresca allowed him to leave, albeit on loan, and a section of the Blues’ fanbase queried the decision.
Yet the loan not only revived Chalobah’s career but brought him right back into the fold at Chelsea.
And with a new-found importance in Maresca’s plans, Chalobah has now a golden opportunity to shine at the FIFA Club World Cup in the US this summer.
Chalobah became a regular starter at Selhurst Park, making 14 appearances over his four-and-a-half-month spell in south London.
Then, in January, and amidst a defensive crisis at Stamford Bridge, he was recalled by Chelsea. Much to the disappointment of Palace boss Oliver Glasner and perhaps even Chalobah himself.
Initially at least.
“He wants to stay here but it’s a decision Chelsea can take,” said Glasner at the time of the player’s recall.
Still, Palace’s loss has very much been Chelsea’s gain and Chalobah has not looked back since returning to his parent club.
Chalobah was reassured that he will play at Chelsea upon his return after having a conversation with sporting director Paul Winstanley before the option was exercised.
Chelsea’s belief that he would re-acclimatise to west London more quickly than any new signing would, given his connection to the club, was certainly vindicated.
He has filled in where required by boss Maresca — and done a fine job in the process with countless crucial blocks and vital tackles for the Chelsea cause.
The imposing defender has looked comfortable in possession, too; a prerequisite for a modern-day centre-half.
Having come through the ranks at Cobham after joining the club as an eight-year-old, Chalobah has battled every step of the way to prove himself in a Chelsea shirt.
The England youth international will be keen to shine when the Blues bid to win the FIFA Club World Cup for the second time this summer.
Chalobah’s long-term future may still be in doubt as Chelsea have made him available for about £25m in the past three transfer windows.
Whether or not he will be allowed to leave permanently in the summer remains to be seen.
His form in a blue jersey in the second half of the season has put him in the frame to feature prominently in the Club World Cup and encouraged hopes he can finally become a permanent fixture in the Chelsea team.
Impressing on the global stage – where Maresca’s side face Leon, Flamengo and ES Tunis in Group D – would certainly give his manager and the Chelsea hierarchy plenty to think about.
Watch all 63 matches of the 2025 Club World Cup live on DAZN. More information and to sign up for a free account here
