Chelsea complete first January transfer addition

The club have invoked a clause in the 25-year-old’s contract due to limited options at centre-back for Enzo Maresca, given the injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.

Fofana and Badiashile are expected to be sidelined for an extended period due to their hamstring injuries, leaving Chelsea manager Maresca with only Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Axel Disasi as options.

Chalobah will miss Crystal Palace’s match against Leicester City tonight and will return to Cobham instead. The decision to loan Chalobah last summer was made after he was excluded from the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

During his loan spell with the Eagles, Chalobah made 14 appearances and scored three impressive goals.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner previously expressed his concern that Chelsea might recall Chalobah from his loan.

“It’s a tricky situation,” Glasner explained. “I always want to be honest. Chelsea has the possibility to call him back from loan. There’s a little bit of uncertainty at the moment: will they do it, when will they do it? We need clarity, he needs clarity.

“Let’s see. Maybe Trevoh is involved or not. He wants to stay here, but it’s a decision Chelsea can take. We are passengers; we are not the pilot who is flying the plane.

“My wish and Trevoh Chalobah’s wish is that he stays with us. Chelsea loaned him to us to give him minutes, to improve his game. This is what he did. But I think he’s not one finished – it’s a one-year loan deal, but we’ll see.”

Chelsea are still keen on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, but a transfer this month appears improbable due to the recent decision to recall Trevoh Chalobah.

Guehi, who came up through Chelsea’s academy and moved to south London in 2021, has long been on the club’s radar.

However, recalling Chalobah seemed a more straightforward and cost-effective option compared to paying a significant fee for Guehi, whom Palace are intent on retaining this month.