Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has completed a loan move to Crystal Palace for the remainder of the season.
The 28-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City in August 2020, becomes the Eagles' second arrival of the January transfer window, after Romain Esse arrived from Millwall.
What did he have to say?
“I spoke to the manager [Oliver Glasner] and it’s a club that is going in a great direction,” Chilwell said on Palace's website.
“When it comes to the style of football that he [Glasner] wants to play – and obviously playing in a back five with wing-backs is something that I'm familiar with, I did it the season at Chelsea we won the [UEFA} Champions League – it's something that I enjoy.
“The attacking side of things suits me as a player, and he [Glasner] emphasised that it was something that he really wants from his wing-backs, which obviously excited me.
“As a team, I think his ambition, where he sees the club going, the players that he's got, and the direction that everyone's working towards, it really excited me hearing that from him.”
📩 New message: Ben Chilwell #CPFC pic.twitter.com/NYeCFsRevI
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) February 3, 2025
Chilwell's career so far
Chilwell's debut season at Chelsea in 2020/21 saw him start 27 Premier League matches and quickly establish himself as a key player.
He was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2021 and the UEFA Super Cup later that same year.
However, his progress was halted by a serious knee injury in November 2021 which ended his season prematurely.
Chilwell has made just 30 Premier League appearances since his first season at the club, with his only involvement this season being a 45-minute cameo in Chelsea’s third-round EFL Cup against Barrow in September.
When could Chilwell feature for Palace?
The Eagles are next in action in the FA Cup when they travel to Doncaster on Monday 10 February, before hosting Everton in the Premier League on Saturday 15 February.
