Crystal Palace have officially confirmed the signing of Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell on loan for the remainder of the season.
Enzo Maresca made it clear at the start of the season that there was no place for Chilwell in his squad, a stance the Italian coach has stuck to, giving the 28-year-old left-back just 45 minutes of playing time across all competitions. Chilwell was even left out of Chelsea’s Premier League matchday squads entirely, with no appearances made on the pitch.
Fresh off another home victory over Manchester United, Palace secured a six-month loan deal for Chilwell, who is still under contract at Chelsea until June 2027.
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Palace boss Oliver Glasner hinted at the arrival of Chilwell prior to his team’s 2-0 win at Old Trafford, saying, “I expect one more signing for a position where we only have one player who plays with his strong foot.” He was referring to the left-back position, where Tyrick Mitchell had been the only left-footed option following Chadi Riad’s season-ending injury.
In addition to making signings, Palace were also turning down offers. Tottenham Hotspur reportedly offered £70m for club captain Marc Guehi, but the Eagles rejected the bid. Guehi, who spent much of the summer linked with a move to Newcastle United, will remain at Selhurst Park for the remainder of the season.
Chilwell hasn’t started a Premier League match since captaining Chelsea to a 2-2 draw with Brentford in early March 2024, over 11 months ago. While it’s uncertain how long it will take him to regain full fitness, he could feature in Palace’s upcoming FA Cup match against Doncaster on Monday.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Chilwell said on the club’s official website. “Crystal Palace is a club that’s going in a great direction. You look at the results and how the team is playing in recent months, and it was a no-brainer for me to make the move here.”
