Ben Chilwell Leaves Chelsea for Crystal Palace on Loan
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Synopsis
Chelsea and Crystal Palace have come to an agreement for Ben Chilwell's short-term loan. The 28-year-old defender was sidelined at Chelsea and is set for a medical ahead of the move. Crystal Palace aims to strengthen their defense after injuries to key players.
Key Takeaways
- Ben Chilwell joins Crystal Palace on loan.
- Former Chelsea vice captain struggled for minutes.
- Medical scheduled ahead of the transfer.
- Palace seeks to boost defense after injuries.
- Chilwell's career impacted by injuries.
London, Feb 3 (NationPress) Chelsea and Crystal Palace have reportedly come to an understanding regarding former vice captain Ben Chilwell for a short-term loan arrangement.
Chilwell was among the players sidelined under head coach Enzo Maresca and struggled to secure a transfer before the summer window closed.
The Italian manager had firmly suggested that it would be advantageous for the English fullback to find a new club where he could gain some playing time. After the transfer deadline, Chilwell returned to first team training but remained excluded from the main squad.
The 28-year-old defender is set to undergo a medical on Monday to finalize his move to Selhurst Park for the remainder of the season, according to a report by The Athletic.
Chilwell's only appearance this season was as a substitute in a 5-0 victory in the Carabao Cup against League Two side Barrow in September, where he played for 45 minutes.
Crystal Palace is urgently seeking to strengthen their defense as defender Chadi Riad is expected to be sidelined for an extended period due to a suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, ruling him out for the entire season.
Additionally, Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, who was on loan at Crystal Palace, has been recalled by Maresca after losing defenders Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana to hamstring injuries.
Chilwell was part of Leicester City’s remarkable 2015-16 squad that won the Premier League before his £50 million transfer to Stamford Bridge. He was a regular starter under Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, including starting in the 2021 UCL final where they triumphed over Manchester City 1-0.
However, since then, Chilwell's career at Chelsea has been marred by injuries, including an ACL injury in the 2021-22 season and multiple hamstring problems that have relegated him to a non-starting role at the West London club.
