It is hard to believe, but Chelsea Football Club was once a defensive powerhouse this decade. In their Champions League-winning campaign in 2020/21, the Blues only conceded a record four times. Chelsea are looking to bolster their defence with Tosin Adarabioyo, who will join Chelsea on a free transfer when his contract with Fulham expires at the end of June 2024.
However, those days seem long gone, as their defence now sets records for all the wrong reasons. The ball hit the back of Chelsea’s net 63 times this season, a record low for the club in the Premier League era.
Fortunately, the club’s attacking prowess has overshadowed its defensive woes this season. The 77 goals were enough to achieve UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) football next season (play-off result pending).
Alas, this is not enough for a club of Chelsea’s stature, with obtaining silverware a key target. Despite some flaws in the attack (Cole Palmer excluded), one can argue that the first thing the club needs to rectify is the leaky defence.
This season, Chelsea has been pegged back from winning positions numerous times, missing 15 points. There have also been too many comical defensive errors. They have not always affected the outcome of a match, but they will have affected the confidence of the players, staff, and fans.
Tosin Adarabioyo’s Potential Impact
So, it is no surprise that the Blues have opted to bring in Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 26-year-old decided not to continue with Fulham beyond the current season, allowing Chelsea to bring the former Manchester City player to the blue side of the borough.
As a new chapter awaits, I’d just like to thank everyone at Fulham Football Club for the last 4 years. Together with the manager, staff, my teammates and supporters, we made some great memories that I’ll always hold fondly. I wish you all the best in the future. pic.twitter.com/7spLN8p9W4
— Tosin Adarabioyo (@TosinAdarabioyo) June 6, 2024
What does Tosin Adarabioyo bring to Chelsea’s shaky defence?
What does Adarabioyo bring to Chelsea’s shaky Defence?
Well, in short, not a lot. But what he brings is that he does very well.
Last season (2023/24), Adarabioyo boasted 1.17 tackles and 0.89 blocks per 90, which is not bad, but most of Chelsea’s defenders outshine this stat, with Levi Colwill tackling at a rate more than double that of the Fulham centre-back (2.40).
His passing is not particularly eye-catching either. Although his 84.5% passing accuracy is decent, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi overshadow this with 90%.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, the transfer begins to make sense the closer you look at Adarabioyo’s statistics.
1.39 interceptions per 90 is only topped by Wesley Fofana’s 2022/23 season, and his completed long pass percentage (65%) is only bettered by Badiahsile (67%).
Adarbioyo’s 4+ clearances a game could also benefit Chelsea’s error-prone defence, potentially reducing the number of times fans scream, “Get rid of it!” this season.
But it is when the ball is at his feet that Adarabioyo shines.
Last season, he carried the ball 253m per 90, outperforming all of Chelsea’s current centre-backs, and the same goes for progressive carries (147.8m per 90). Yet the most eye-catching stats of the Englishman are his touches.
Embed from Getty ImagesTosin Adarabioyo’s touches per 90 in the defensive third put him in the 91st and 76th percentile for touches overall. These stats bode very well for incoming manager Enzo Maresca’s style of play and philosophies regarding control.
Furthermore, his 1.96m height and 1.61 touches in the opponent’s box per game make him a huge asset in set pieces, an area of particular weakness for the Blues this season.
Chalobah’s Uncertain Chelsea Future
However, with Chelsea’s stacked defence, someone will potentially have to miss out, with Trevoh Chalobah being the most likely candidate.
Is Trevoh Chalobah’s future at the club now in doubt?
The board finds the opportunity to sell an academy player for pure profit enticing, especially given issues regarding FFP.
The Case for Keeping Chalobah
On the other hand, if Chelsea wins the UECL playoffs, eight games will be added to their calendar, meaning rotation will be key for next season if we intend to challenge for silverware.
Keeping Chalobah can aid in this. He is a decent centre-back who loves the club and shone in the latter stages of last season.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, since coming through to the first team in 2021, he has suffered injuries which have led to lengthy spells on the sidelines and has put out some pretty poor performances.
The one that comes to mind most recently is Chalobah turning towards the goal while trying to block Rodri’s equaliser in the game away to Man City. The shot deflected off him and sent Djorde Petrovic completely the wrong way, and led to Chelsea dropping two points.
Chalobah is also quite weak in the air, only boasting 46.3% aerial duels won, which is quite poor for a Premier League defender.
With all this considered, one would not be surprised if Chelsea went ahead with selling the centre-back, especially given the much stronger players in front of him in the pecking order.
Potential Complications in Selling Chalobah
Alas, selling Chalobah will be easier said than done. The 24-year-old has a lucrative contract until 2028, which means he is in no rush to leave, and other clubs may be unwilling to match his high wages at Chelsea.
An Uncertain Summer Ahead
Chalobah may stay with the Blues beyond this transfer window, but if the higher-ups at the club decide to push him out, a lengthy and tedious transfer saga is almost certain to cast a shadow over Chelsea’s summer.