Trevoh Chalobah Has Always Been Good Enough for Chelsea

It is now time to do the obvious

Let me take you back to the summer of 2021. Chelsea have just been crowned European Champions, Thomas Tuchel’s reputation is unimpeachable and the Blues are looking for ways to improve the current squad.

Growing links over Chelsea’s pursuit to strengthen Tuchel’s robust defence leads to a highly-rated young player from Sevilla called Jules Kounde. A growing belief of an over £50m fee are touted and a deal seems inevitable as an unwanted Kurt Zouma makes way to West Ham.

Meanwhile, the future of a 22-year-old Trevoh Chalobah remains unresolved. He had just completed a loan at Lorient in Ligue 1, finishing 16th without much glamour, mostly fielded in a defensive midfield role. This being the Cobham prospect’s third loan stint after time at Ipswich and Huddersfield in the Championship. A permanent exit seemed the likeliest route with no senior appearance to speak of and money being spent to upgrade a Champions League winning defence.

Four years later, Chalobah is putting in a dominant defensive showing alongside another academy success story in Levi Colwill. Chalobah has not just played well, he has helped keep out an attack that obliterated Real Madrid four days earlier and strolled to a Champions League crown in Munich.

This would be his second Club World Cup winners medal after starring in the 2022 victory during a highly impressive breakthrough season. Chalobah also started and impressed in the Conference League victory, a big win over Champions Liverpool, along with a flurry of other notably strong displays to become one of Enzo Maresca’s consistent starters by the end of 2024/25. The slightly comical fact in all of this being that he spent half of last season at another club.

Chalobah’s story should be one great success. One of the shining examples of the club’s ability to produce elite calibre talent at a staggering rate. But even across the past 12 months, Chalobah had to move across London to gain some appreciation before being recalled in January.

Chalobah has consistently been doubted and talked down by his own employer. 12 months ago he was not allowed on the plane to the US Pre-Season tour and banished from first-team facilities, also briefed against that he wasn’t “technical” enough to play for a coach who had not even taken one training session yet.

Every summer since 2021 has repeated the trend of doubt over whether Chalobah will remain by the end of Deadline Day. But despite banishment and consistent spend in his position on new recruits, Chelsea always find their way back to Chalobah.

It was originally Tuchel who promoted Chalobah off the back of an impressive pre-season in 2021, starting him in the UEFA Super Cup Final, his senior debut no less before doing the same in the Premier League opener at home to Crystal Palace, where he scored a belter.

Chalobah at 26 has played in multiple finals for Chelsea making over 100 appearances and completing 7,402 competitive minutes. He has operated under pressure and scrutiny. He has had to play in pretty much every position across a defensive line with the consistent flux in personnel and coaching across that four year period. Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino and Maresca have all used Chalobah in important ways.

It should come as a notable lesson that none of the most expensive defensive additions have come close to matching Chalobah’s consistency or durability.

Wesley Fofana has broken down with injury multiple times since his arrival from Leicester in 2022, Axel Disasi is likely off following a series of poor displays, loaned to Aston Villa midway through last-term. Benoit Badiashile remains a liked squad player but has not proven himself an upgrade either. Tosin Adarabioyo deserves the most plaudits for becoming a trusted rotational option when required costing the club no transfer fee in 2024.

But no amount of investment has bettered what Chalobah has. You would think the penny would drop internally, as externally. Why not?

You ponder if the new shiny toy syndrome will always be craved no matter how much money has proven ineffective before. There has always been a blind refusal by some to ever view academy players with the same lens as they do for “bigger” names. Again, no matter if the evidence proves that the academy player has proven better value over time.

Perception sometimes triumphs reality. Chalobah has performed like a reliable defender for an extended period of time. If Dean Huijsen shut out PSG’s attack as Chalobah helped to on Sunday, cue mass comps on the timeline. Chelsea only conceded one open play goal in the knockouts of the Club World Cup, and that was the ridiculous effort by Estevao.

All through this treatment, Chalobah has remained firmly committed to Stamford Bridge when he could have understandably, turned around and made his point by thriving elsewhere. He has not moaned, posted intentionally provocative social media messages or given misguided interviews to gain traction. Even after last summer, the extent to Chalobah’s messaging comes from his religion.

His latest posting him sun-soaked, laying down on the turf of MetLife with the caption: "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”

The Chalobah story is a wonderful example of perseverance and belief in your own ability no matter how many doubters you have.

Many will have Cole Palmer printed on their shirts, which is understandable. We all love the superstar, the goalscorer and genius on a pitch. But all great teams also need Cesar Azpilicueta, they need Gary Cahill, they need Nemanja Matic, they need Willian. They need dedicated and selfless professionals that allow the platform for more extroverted talents to shine further up the pitch.

Trev exemplifies that in spades, along with the great work ethic and versatility that so many produced in Cobham maintain.

As I have gotten older the thought of a “favourite” player feels less important. Mainly because Frank Lampard will always be the answer, followed by Diego Costa.

But if you had to pin me down to one whose story resonates most, it is Trevoh Chalobah, he exemplifies the attitude and spirit most fans crave in those who have the privilege to wear the badge.

What Sunday’s result should finally do is cement the point that Chalobah is not just good enough for Chelsea. He has always been good enough and now deserves the commitment from his own club that he has given to it.