Chelsea should rue promoting a “tank” who’s now price greater than Chilwell

Chelsea are famend for his or her wonderful youth setup, which has seen a number of gamers progress and excel throughout the Blues’ first group.

Reece James, Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill are simply three examples of skills who’re at the moment inside Mauricio Pochettino‘s facet that progressed by the Cobham academy.

Fiakyo Tomori and Mason Mount had been within the Chelsea youth sides across the similar time because the names beforehand talked about, with the pair finally leaving Stamford Bridge and making the membership an enormous revenue.

The kids each loved profitable spells at Derby County earlier than returning to the membership, making an affect, then in the end being bought for £25m and £55m respectively.

Nonetheless, the membership additionally let one other gifted teen depart, with the previous Blues participant now a longtime Premier League expertise with a number of worldwide call-ups.

Marc Guehi’s stats at Chelsea

After becoming a member of Chelsea as an eight-year-old, defender Marc Guehi quickly progressed by numerous youth ranges at Stamford Bridge, serving to the U18 facet win the quadruple.

He signed a skilled contract on the age of 18, earlier than having fun with a number of mortgage spells at Swansea Metropolis within the Championship. He was a part of the Swans facet that misplaced the play-off remaining in 2021 towards Brentford, with Guehi “sensible all season” – within the phrases of Steve Cooper – and attracting curiosity from a number of Premier League sides.

Upon his return to Blues after his profitable stints in south Wales, it was unclear whether or not the centre-back would keep at Stamford Bridge or depart on mortgage as soon as extra, enabling him to achieve useful first-team minutes.

Chelsea determined towards each choices, with Thomas Tuchel promoting the teen to a different Premier League facet – a transfer that regarded sensible enterprise on the time, however now an enormous mistake.

Marc Guehi’s switch worth in 2024

Guehi was bought for £18m to Crystal Palace in the summertime of 2021, with the defender signing a five-year deal at Selhurst Park.

He is excelled because the transfer, with the now 23-year-old trying to be price each penny of the switch charge spent on him. He is made 108 appearances for the Eagles, with the previous Chelsea teen being an integral a part of the Palace squad, taking the armband in current months.

His wonderful kind away from Chelsea hasn’t gone unnoticed both, with Guehi receiving his first England call-up in March 2022 and making his debut for his nation within the 2-1 win over Switzerland.

The 6-foot centre-back has since featured 9 occasions underneath Gareth Southgate, with the defender’s market worth growing quickly consequently.

In 2024, the 23-year-old is now valued at £32.5m as per Transfermarkt – a determine that’s £7m greater than Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, with the defender valued at £25.5m – lower than 4 years after his £45m transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Given his speedy rise since his departure, the membership might remorse promoting the “absolute tank” – as dubbed by by former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik – with the Blues doubtlessly saving some huge cash had they caught by the academy graduate.

Certainly, the Blues could be blessed with loads of choices within the centre of defence with Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile acquired underneath Todd Boehly’s possession however Guehi is now Premier League-proven and would have saved the American a fortune had he not been bought.