Marc Guehi is just one player who emerged out of Chelsea’s talented Cobham academy setup but was restricted to just two first-team appearances, with both coming in the Carabao Cup.
He would subsequently spend 18 months on loan at Championship side Swansea City, impressing in England’s second tier, but it wasn’t enough for the Welsh side to secure promotion.
However, despite his impressive form, it wouldn’t be enough to catapult him into the first team at Stamford Bridge, subsequently joining Crystal Palace in an £18m deal in the summer of 2021.
The move would be a disaster for the Blues, with Enzo Maresca trying to sign the Englishman in recent windows to try and bolster his defence but were put off by the Eagles’ £75m valuation.
Guehi would’ve been a phenomenal addition to the current side in West London, potentially partnering one player at the heart of the Blues’ backline.
Levi Colwill’s stats at Chelsea in 2024/25
Centre-back Levi Colwill is another player who, like Guehi, came through Chelsea’s academy but was able to make the jump into the senior setup.
The 22-year-old has become a key part of Maresca’s side since the Italian’s appointment, starting 25 of the 27 Premier League outings to date, but has come under fire in recent weeks.
The supporters have voiced their displeasure over his showings in West London, but he managed to silence some of his critics in his latest showing against Southampton, keeping a clean sheet and getting himself on the scoresheet.
Colwill has a huge opportunity to become a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s England side over the next few years, with left-sided centre-backs hard to come by in the modern game.
However, despite his impressive rise to stardom with his boyhood side, he’s been outperformed by another former Blue who’s taken his career to the next level after his permanent move in 2021.
The former Chelsea star who’s outperformed Colwill in 2024/25
Given the strength of Chelsea’s youth setup, it’s always going to be likely that numerous youngsters fail to feature in the first-team, with Guehi just one player who’s demonstrated such a switch.
Another player who has managed to move away from his boyhood club and make a career for himself is fellow centre-back Fikayo Tomori, who made 47 appearances for the Blues before leaving.
He starred for Derby County on loan in 2018/19 before making the jump into the Blues side, scoring an unbelievable effort against Wolverhampton Wanderers – undoubtedly his biggest moment for the club.
He would depart in a £25m deal to join AC Milan in the summer of 2021, raising a decent fee, but subsequently losing one of their key talents who’s gone on to star in Serie A.
Tomori, who’s previously been dubbed “exceptional” by journalist Henry Winter, has since made 147 appearances for the Italian giants, becoming a key member at the heart of their defence.
In 2024/25 alone, the 27-year-old has registered 26 appearances, outperforming Colwill in the process, highlighting the mistake the club made in allowing him to leave.
He’s managed to complete more of his attempted passes compared to the current Blues first-team star, whilst also winning more tackles – showcasing his ability in and out of possession.
|
How Tomori compares to Colwill in 2024/25 so far |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tomori |
Colwill |
|
Games played |
14 |
25 |
|
Minutes played |
970 |
2249 |
|
Pass accuracy |
93% |
90% |
|
Tackles won |
1.5 |
0.8 |
|
Interceptions made |
1.1 |
1 |
|
Clearances made |
3.3 |
3.1 |
|
Progressive carries |
0.7 |
0.4 |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Tomori has also made more interceptions and completed more clearances, demonstrating the defensive solidity he possesses, aiding Maresca’s backline had the club kept hold of him.
The £25m fee now looks a figure way too cheap given his impact in Italy, with the Blues undoubtedly regretting their decision to offload the Englishman.
Colwill is in desperate need of a regular partner at the back after Wesley Fofana’s injury issues, with Tomori able to provide just that – but unfortunately, he will remain a case of what could’ve been.
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