Chelsea
have signed England left-back Ben Chilwell from Leicester for a fee in the
region of £50m on a five-year deal.
Chelsea beat Leicester to a Champions League place on the final day of the
2019/20 Premier League season - pushing the Foxes into the Europa League -
and have now convinced them to part with one of their prized assets.
Chilwell joins new Stamford Bridge arrivals Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner,
who have already signed from Ajax and RB Leipzig, respectively.
Chelsea are also in talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz
and former Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva, who is set to undergo a
medical on Thursday, as they look to build on a fourth-placed Premier League
finish and an appearance in the FA Cup final in Lampard's first season in
charge.
The Blues will also have to allow players to leave this summer, with
left-back Emerson Palmieri vulnerable due to Chilwell's imminent arrival.
Inter Milan are reportedly interested in the Brazil-born Italy
international.
Analysis: Chelsea backing expensive
Chilwell to step up
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
Ben Chilwell has not come cheap. He was under contract until 2024 and with
Leicester under no pressure to sell, the Foxes have held out for a huge fee
from Chelsea, just as they did when Manchester United had to pay them £80m
for Harry Maguire last summer.
So is he worth it? Chelsea made left-back a priority area this summer and
while Chilwell eclipses the quality of back-up Emerson Palmieri, who seems
likely to head back to Italy, does he offer more going forward than
long-term Blue Marcos Alonso?
Defensively Chilwell is arguably more reliable than the Spanish full-back
but with players in this position now measured as much - if not more - by
their contributions in the attacking third it is clear the youngster still
has room to improve. He recorded six goal involvements last season (three
goals, three assists), which is the same number Alonso managed (four goals,
two assists) in nine fewer games.
Chelsea and Frank Lampard will expect a significant increase on that return,
given the money they've paid. But Chilwell is 23 and there is an element of
Chelsea backing England's first-choice left-back to kick on at Stamford
Bridge. It has cost Chelsea a lot of money to see if that faith will be
repaid - but Lampard has already shown he is willing to give emerging stars
the chance to shine.
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