Chelsea’s Midfield Rebuild: How Billy Gilmour’s Progress Highlights a Potential Transfer Regret
Chelsea’s midfield has undergone a massive transformation in recent years, transitioning from the era of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Jorginho, who were instrumental in the club’s 2021 Champions League victory, to a new generation of talents.
With Kante, Kovacic, and Jorginho aging, Chelsea spent heavily on Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Enzo Fernández, investing over £250 million to refresh the engine room. Despite these high-profile arrivals, one player they let go, Billy Gilmour, may prove to be a costly oversight.
Billy Gilmour’s Chelsea Beginnings
Gilmour, who joined Chelsea’s academy in 2017 from Rangers for a modest £500,000, quickly rose through the youth ranks. By 2019, under then-manager Frank Lampard, the Scot made his senior debut and was heralded as one of the club’s brightest young talents.
However, despite his promise, Gilmour was eventually phased out to make way for Chelsea’s newer midfield recruits.
Gilmour’s Brighton Breakthrough
After leaving Chelsea for Brighton, Gilmour flourished under Roberto De Zerbi’s guidance, particularly after Graham Potter—who initially brought Gilmour to the club—left for Chelsea.
Last season, Gilmour made 41 appearances for Brighton, contributing two assists and helping the Seagulls to nine clean sheets.
His performances caught the attention of Napoli, leading to a summer transfer for an initial £12 million, a bargain in today’s market for such a promising 23-year-old.
Gilmour vs Chelsea’s Midfield Signings
When comparing Gilmour’s stats to Chelsea’s new midfielders from the 2023/24 season, the similarities are striking, particularly in his passing metrics.
- Passes Attempted (per 90 mins): Gilmour led with 84.2, surpassing both Fernández (76.0) and Caicedo (66.6).
- Pass Completion (%): Gilmour also had the highest pass completion rate, at 90.8%, compared to Fernández’s 84.5% and Caicedo’s 90.0%.
- Progressive Passes and Carries: While Fernández was ahead in both progressive passes and carries, Gilmour’s numbers were competitive, showing his ability to dictate play.
Defensively, Gilmour lagged behind, especially in tackles and interceptions, areas where Caicedo, in particular, excelled. However, given Gilmour’s smaller frame and style of play, his role is more focused on ball retention and distribution, rather than physical dominance.
The Road Ahead
At just 23, Gilmour still has room to grow and is now set to continue his development at Napoli, a club renowned for nurturing midfield talents.
Chelsea, on the other hand, may come to regret letting Gilmour leave for such a modest fee, especially given his strong performances at Brighton and his potential to shine in Italy.
While Chelsea’s current midfield options are undeniably strong, Gilmour’s impressive progression at Brighton shows that he could have been a valuable asset in their rebuild. His technical abilities, combined with his passing range, make him a player who could thrive in various systems, potentially making his departure a significant misstep for the London club.
