Chelsea’s Chilwell joins Crystal Palace on loan

Ben Chilwell, a Chelsea defender, has left on loan to Premier League side Crystal Palace.

Left-back Chilwell, 28, has not made a Premier League appearance since April 2024 and was told last August he was not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.

The England international only made one appearance this season, against Barrow in September’s second half of the Blues’ Carabao Cup win.

Chilwell, who is on a permanent deal until the summer of 2027, has previously been cited by Chelsea boss Maresca.

“I’m very excited to be here”, Chilwell told the official Crystal Palace website.

” Crystal Palace is a club that’s going in a great direction. You look at the last few months, with the results and how the team’s playing, and it was a no-brainer to make the decision to come here”.

After Morocco international Chadi Riad was sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Palace were interested in signing Chilwell to increase their defensive options.

Chilwell’s contract at Chelsea expires in 2023, after being extended from Leicester City on a five-year deal worth £45m in 2020.

In a friendly against Belgium in March 2024, he won his most recent of his 21 England caps.

Chilwell was left out of Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2024.

Palace are 12th in the Premier League with 30 points from 24 games.