(Credit: Getty Images/Imago)

Jack Heath

Thu 7 August 2025 14:19, UK

Chelsea have been notified of the interest of four English clubs who are eager to bring in Alfie Gilchrist.

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Stamford Bridge is looking like Heathrow Airport right now with the high amount of arrivals and departures this summer.

The south London club have been meticulously selling unwanted players in order to bring in hot new property, most recently Dutch defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax.

With the squad standing at 38 as of 7 August, according to Sofascore, there will be a whole host of players looking to leave the Blues in search of regular football.

One such player is academy product Gilchrist who has been pushed right to the bottom of the defender pecking order.

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As per the Daily Mail‘s Chelsea report (6 August), the 21-year-old is another youth graduate set to leave the Blues this summer, despite high praise from club legend John Terry who has admitted he recognised himself in Gilchrist.

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The Mail understands that four Championship clubs have “declared their interest in a permanent deal”, including Derby and Watford.

Middlesbrough’s signing of Callum Brittain from Blackburn is “expected to trigger a domino effect” with right-backs in the English second-division, “accelerating the exit” of Gilchrist.

The Rams and the Hornets are supposedly intrigued to acquire the young defender at an estimated £5million.

Levi Colwill is one defender to secure his status after coming through the academy (Credit Imago)

Football Insider verdict

Having spent last season on loan with Sheffield United, the Englishman saw fairly regular minutes under Chris Wilder.

He started 27 of his 30 matches for the Blades and would have been disappointed that the northern side have so far opted to not bring him in on a permanent basis.

However, due to the revolving door scenario at Stamford Bridge, the academy graduate must leave his boyhood club before he rots in the reserves.

Enzo Maresca’s tenure in south London has been marked with a overriding sense of ruthlessness, where unwanted or underperforming players are removed or isolated altogether.

Alfie Gilchrist Sheffield United 2024-25 ChampionshipAppearances (started)30 (27)Minutes played2116Minutes per game71Assists2(Source: Sofascore)

Whilst the 21-year-old has done little to warrant being given the cold shoulder, for his career prospects he must part ways with Chelsea.

A driven and talented individual, he could easily walk in to any side in the Championship and it would offer necessary development in the second-tier for the defender.

In recent years, the Bridge has failed at times in opening pathways into the senior team for their youth prodigies with many becoming frustrated at the viability of promotion to the starting XI.

Therefore, Gilchrist must act before it is too late to give himself the best chance of regular minutes to play the game he loves.

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