•Trevoh Chalobah
Chelsea have recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace, activating a clause in his contract following the recent injuries to defenders Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana.
With Fofana’s return expected to be delayed, Chelsea have opted to bring Chalobah back to Stamford Bridge to strengthen their defensive options, reports AFP.
Chalobah, a product of Chelsea’s academy, had been left out of the first-team plans last summer, having been informed that he was not part of the club’s long-term future.
As a result, he joined Crystal Palace on a season-long loan, where he quickly adapted and earned regular playing time. Sources suggest that Chalobah was content at Palace, where he had settled well into the team’s defensive setup.
However, Chelsea’s recent struggles, with no wins in their last five Premier League matches, have led manager Enzo Maresca to re-evaluate his squad. With both Fofana and Badiashile sidelined due to hamstring injuries, Chelsea are looking to Chalobah as a viable option.
The 24-year-old can operate both as a centre-back and right-back, offering flexibility in Maresca’s system, which emphasizes possession-based football. In addition to Chalobah’s return, Chelsea have recalled Aaron Anselmino from his loan at Boca Juniors to further reinforce their defense.
Chelsea had also considered making a move for former player Marc Guéhi, now at Palace, but bringing Chalobah back is seen as a more straightforward solution. In turn, Crystal Palace will now look to fill the gap in their defense with Chris Richards and Chadi Riad.
