Chelsea announced their third high-profile signing of the summer, after their purchase of Leicester City full-back Ben Chilwell for around £50 million was announced today. He has been one of Frank Lampard’s key targets, but just what will he bring to Chelsea?
Defence
Whilst at Leicester, Chilwell caught the eye with his proficiency when tackling. He was never one to shy away from a challenge, which should add a bit of bite to the Chelsea backline. He seems much more confident at the back than the other options Chelsea have, with both Emerson and Alonso preferring to get forward more often. Chilwell will certainly provide much needed cover down that left flank for the Blues.
On the ball
Chilwell’s range of passing is what really sets him apart from other options that Chelsea have in that position. Whilst not the quickest, he still has enough pace to beat an opposing player in short bursts, and his technique when dribbling is far from poor. Yet his passing is his main quality. He doesn’t make many mistakes when he is asked to pass short, and his crossing is sublime. One of the main reasons that Leicester had such a strong season, for the most part, was how Brendan Rodgers asked his full-backs to get forward often. Ricardo Pereira and Chilwell were instrumental in the way they played, providing quality crosses throughout every game. I do believe that the cause of Leicester’s end-of-season drop-off was the injuries that those two sustained. Chilwell will be able to find Chelsea’s attackers with ease; whether it be a long ball for Werner or a high cross for Giroud or Abraham, and those strikers will relish the chance to have such a tireless left-back providing an endless stream of quality balls.
Attack
Finally, Chilwell has shown that he is not afraid to get forward. He racked up 3 goals and 3 assists last term in 27 appearances. This may not be the most exciting of statistics, but when he popped up in the box, he was lethal. His goal against Watford after the restart was a thing of beauty, and Chelsea fans will be hoping to see him provide some more memorable strikes in years to come.
Overall, I think Chilwell will be a fantastic addition to Lampard’s squad. Whilst the £50 million price tag is very steep, I think he will provide quality when on the ball that is unrivalled by either Alonso or Emerson. His ability in both boxes will see him transition effortlessly between left-back and wing-back, and he could be a real star in years to come.
By Jed Vine
