Chelsea have been approached by Crystal Palace regarding a potential late loan move for Ben Chilwell, according to multiple reports.
Chilwell, who has been completely sidelined at Stamford Bridge under Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, has found himself behind Marc Cucurella, Reece James, Malo Gusto, and Renato Veiga in the left-back pecking order. The 28-year-old has not featured in any Premier League matchday squad, with his only appearance in the 2024/25 season coming in a 45-minute outing against League Two side Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
In August, Maresca bluntly told Chilwell that it would be “better to leave and go and get minutes,” a sentiment that has proven true as the vice-captain remains on the sidelines, despite the manager praising his professionalism in recent press conferences.
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Reports from Fabrizio Romano and football.london suggest that Crystal Palace, who have shown improvement in recent weeks after a slow start to the season, have reached out to Chelsea about a potential move for Chilwell, offering him a chance to escape his current situation.
Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, are keen to add depth to their squad, viewing Chilwell as the ideal player to challenge Tyrick Mitchell for a starting spot in their wing-back system, which utilizes three central defenders. Negotiations are reportedly underway with Chilwell’s representatives, but it is unclear whether a deal is imminent.
Palace have invested heavily this season, rewarding Glasner for an impressive first half-season in charge with signings such as Ismaila Sarr, Eddie Nketiah, and Maxence Lacroix. The club also bolstered their forward ranks with the addition of Romain Esse from Millwall in January.
Before joining Chelsea in 2020 for £45m, Chilwell made 123 appearances for Leicester City and earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, where he has been capped 21 times, though his international career has been hindered by a series of serious injuries.
