Ben Chilwell ‘excited’ for Crystal Palace loan after Chelsea exile

Crystal Palace deadline day signing Ben Chilwell is excited to get back to playing football again after being axed from the Chelsea first team by Enzo Maresca.

Chilwell joined Chelsea from Leicester on a five-year deal for £45million in 2020 and helped the Blues win the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel in his first season.

He has made 21 appearances for Engand at senior level but was left out of Gareth Southgate’s provisional 33-man England squad for Euro 2024.

The 28-year-old has not made a Premier League appearance since April 2024 and was told last August he was not part of Maresca’s plans.

Chilwell’s signing was announced on Monday evening and has joined on loan until the end of the 2024-25 season.

“I’m very excited,” he told PalaceTV.

“I spoke with the manager and it’s a club going in a great direction. If you look at the results and the players they have had in the last few months, it was a no-brainer to make the decision to come here.

“The style of football that he [Glasner] wants to play, playing in a back five with wing-backs, is something I’m familiar with. We did in the season at Chelsea, where we won the Champions League.

“I enjoy the attacking side of things – it suits me as a player. His ambition and how he mentioned where he sees the club going really excited me.

“I want to play football.

“I’ve been to the stadium a few times over the years. It’s a great stadium with great fans. I’m really excited to get back to playing football.

“Hopefully I can help.”

Chiwell will provide cover and competition for Tyrick Mitchell, something they have been searching for in transfer windows past.

Slavia Prague’s El Hadji Malick Diouf was the prime target at the start of the window, but the Czech club priced the Eagles out of a move after selling goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to Tottenham.

Mitchell, who has predominantly been a left-back during his time in the first team and won England recognition for his performance in 2022, has three goals to his name in 172 appearances for the South Londoners.

Chilwell has 30 goal contributions in 169 Premier League outings. His first outing could be against League Two side Doncaster on Monday night in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

“I like to attack,” he added.

“First and foremost, I am a defender. The defending side of things is very important – even when you’re playing as a wing-back.

“I like to be adventurous and be involved in goals – whether that’s scoring or assisting.

“I like helping the team as much as possible on the attacking side of things and getting up and down the line for the whole game.

“I didn’t want to come in and just help on the pitch, I wanted to help off the pitch too. I look at the last few years at Chelsea where I became one of the more experienced players and it’s something I have taken on and enjoyed.

“Coming into the squad and playing in a system I’ve played in before, it’s a good opportunity to help on and of the pitch.

“I want to help everyone with the experiences I’ve had.”

PICTURE: ALAMY