Trevoh Chalobah joined Crystal Palace towards the end of the summer transfer window, but missed their first two games due to a strained abdominal muscle.
His first two appearances were slender 1-0 defeats to the Premier League’s current top two, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Chalobah then impressed in a back three alongside Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi, as Palace beat Tottenham — their first win and the first of multiple impressive performances from Oliver Glasner’s central defensive core.
Palace went on a five-match unbeaten run before Chalobah was benched ahead of facing Arsenal, which they lost 5-1. He returned for their 0-0 draw with Bournemouth and scored the equaliser in a 2-1 win over Southampton.
His fit alongside Lacroix and Guehi matters more than his underlying numbers, with the trio seamlessly rotating positions when on the pitch.
Chalobah has averaged 1.4 successful tackles and 1.6 interceptions per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, placing him in the top 14 per cent of centre-backs in both categories. Only Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol (four) has scored more than his three goals among Premier League defenders.
His departure will hurt Palace, who just seemed to be finding their feet. There are also questions over Chalobah starting immediately for Chelsea, with Tosin Adarabioyo putting in decent displays alongside Levi Colwill in the heart of defence.
But he improves their depth following Wesley Fofana’s hamstring injury.