Chelsea's summer transfer window may have officially closed, but their squad planning appears far from finished, with rumors swirling that previously exiled left-back Ben Chilwell could be in for a surprise return to the club's 25-man Premier League squad for the 2024/25 season. Despite being told by new manager Enzo Maresca that he was free to leave, Chilwell's proposed move to Turkey, where the transfer window is still open, hasn't materialized.
Chilwell has not featured for Chelsea this season, as Maresca made it clear he wasn't in the immediate plans. However, with the transfer window in Turkey closing, Chilwell's career at Stamford Bridge seemed to be nearing an end. Yet, there are now reports that the 26-year-old left-back might still be included in Chelsea's final Premier League squad list, which must be submitted soon.
Chilwell has participated in some first-team training sessions, albeit only when numbers were low due to injuries or absences. Normally, however, he has been training separately from the senior squad when all players were available. It remains uncertain whether, if he is included in the Premier League squad, he will be fully reintegrated into first-team training on a consistent basis. His status as a homegrown player could be a key factor in his inclusion, as Chelsea will need to meet the Premier League's requirements in that area.
The situation is complicated further by the fact that Chilwell has not been included in Chelsea's UEFA Conference League squad, raising questions about how many minutes he might realistically see between now and the next transfer window in January. Even if he is included in the Premier League squad, finding opportunities to play could be difficult, especially given that Maresca has been firm in his stance about players not featuring in his plans.
Before the season began, Maresca made it clear that Chilwell was not part of his long-term vision for Chelsea. He stated that although he admired the left-back as a player, Chilwell struggled to find his best position within the system that Maresca wanted to implement. Maresca emphasized that it would be better for Chilwell to leave in search of regular minutes elsewhere, as continuing to train with the team without getting any game time would not benefit either party.
As Chelsea gear up for their next Premier League match against Bournemouth, the uncertainty surrounding Chilwell's future remains. The Blues have struggled at the Vitality Stadium in recent years, managing just one win in their last four visits, so all eyes will be on how the team performs and whether Chilwell’s situation is resolved in time for him to make an impact.
Whether or not Chilwell can find his way back into Maresca's plans remains to be seen, but for now, the possibility of a surprise U-turn adds yet another layer of intrigue to Chelsea's ongoing squad drama.
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