"The work for next season starts now, we will be back. Thank you fans for all the support this season."
Trevoh Chalobah has put the work in to be a Chelsea star. The defender has earned two contracts in as many seasons since breaking through into the Blues' first team in August 2021. The 24-year-old earned an FA Cup medal as long ago as the 2017/18 season before undergoing a series of loans to Ipswich, Huddersfield Town and Lorient.
With the likes of Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva on the bench, Thomas Tuchel chose to select Chalobah as part of his back three for the UEFA Super Cup final against Villarreal after an impressive pre-season. At that stage, the Blues had plans to loan out the young defender, 120 minutes later his platform had changed.
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"We still have some days to decide his personal future but in the moment he shows his value to the team,"said Tuchel having admitted that the Cohbam product was in his thinking. A start and a goal followed against Crystal Palace in the opening Premier League match of the season.
Chalobah was a regular presence in Chelsea's side for much of that season, though appeared out of favour when the Blues' struggled towards the end of the season. However, it was Chalobah who was trusted in the FA Cup final and it would be difficult to consider his season as anything but a success.
Neverthelss, Chalobah was to have it all to prove once again. Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen departed last summer but Chelsea brought in Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana, players undoubtedly in contention for a first team spot.
It was little wonder that Chalobah would draw interest as Inter Milan, Roma, RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa all eyed the defender who found himself with Chelsea's development squad alongside Ethan Ampadu and Ben Chilwell.
Chalobah was assured his immediate and long-term future was at Stamford Bridge and ultimately stayed with the club. The 23-year-old played just once under Tuchel and was sat on the bench for Graham Potter's opening two matches before earning his place in the team.
The former loanee put in impressive displays against AC Milan and became a consistent presence for Potter to the extent that a late England call-up would not have been unthinkable despite Chelsea's indifferent form.
An injury issue during the World Cup break meant Chalobah once again had to work his way back into Chelsea's side with more competition in Benoit Badiashile arriving in January. It was not until Frank Lampard's arrival that Chalobah truly became a regular once again as the caretaker boss utlised his charge's versatility to alternate him between the centre of defence and right back.
With an impressive physical transformation having worked with personal trainer James Ralph, Chalobah was one of few players to show the capacity to compete for the Blues even if not every performance was perfect. With Lampard's dismay at his squad's physical ability, Chalobah once again made himself indispensable.
Now, the transfer window arrives again and football.london understands that Inter Milan retain their interest in the defender with a £25million move mooted. Chelsea will add another player to compete with in his position in Levi Colwill, who has been declared not for sale, while Malo Gusto's arrival should mean his services are required less frequently on the right.
Chalobah has been written off before and still has ambitions to play first team football and even earn a spot in England's Euros squad. A clean slate will be present as Mauricio Pochettino arrives with the former Spurs boss needing to select two or three started from Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly, Fofana, Badiashile and Colwill.
Three of those players are yet to spend a year at Chelsea, while Silva extended his contract for a further year this term and Colwill returns having enhanced his reputation. Chalobah perhaps offers more versatility than his teammates with the ability to also play in midfield but could be considered one of the more sellable assets.
He has been written off before however, and will have an opportunity to prove to Pochettino like his previous Chelsea bosses, that he is good enough to play. Chelsea will have decisions to make on the likes of Koulibaly, who has drawn interest from Italy, and will not be forced into a move.
Chalobah's current deal runs until 2028, with only Fofana and Badiashile holding longer contracts in the centre of defence. It remains to be seen as they live up to their word that Chalobah is part of their vision.
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