23-year-old left-back Ben Chilwell has joined Chelsea from Leicester City on a five-year contract. The England international has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge throughout this transfer period.
BBC Sport believe Chelsea have spent £45 million on their newest player. Chilwell becomes the third high profile signing of the summer for Frank Lampard’s squad, after Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
What Chilwell brings
Where Marcos Alonso is purely an attacking left-back, Chilwell is more versatile. Defence has been the key weakness so far under Lampard’s reign, adding Chilwell is the first step in strengthening it.
Leicester conceded 13 fewer goals than Chelsea in the 2019/20 Premier League season.
Speaking with Chelsea TV, Chilwell said he hoped for long term success with The Blues:
“Hopefully win lots of trophies at the club. It’s a big part of me wanting to come here. I looked at the squad, the manager and obviously the signings they brought in before myself.
“And I think over the next few years we can definitely start to win a lot, and hopefully, that can continue for the next however long.”
New signings often trot out similar lines, but Chilwell’s ambition comes through in his words. At just 23, there is hope he can stay at the club for the duration of his five-year contract – if not longer – as Lampard builds his squad.
Chilwell has made 11 appearances for the England team. His most recent match was the last time out for England against Kosovo in November 2019. Though he has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming matches against Iceland and Denmark.
This won’t be the only defensive addition to the squad. Sky Sports are reporting another signing will be made this week, with Tiago Silva set to join from PSG.
