Ben Chilwell’s Chelsea Exit, Injuries, and Strasbourg Move

From Champions League glory with Chelsea in 2021 to being sidelined and ultimately leaving the club, Ben Chilwell’s career arc has been dramatic. This article tracks the injury setbacks, tactical shifts, and financial realities behind his 2024/25 move to Strasbourg and what it means for his future.

Age: 29 (born 21 December 1996) ·
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) ·
Current club: Strasbourg (permanent from 2025) ·
Position: Left-back / left wing-back ·
Weekly wage (est.): £190,000 ·
Market value: €20 million (Transfermarkt)

Nine key facts about Ben Chilwell, drawn from official club records and verified sources, form a clear baseline for understanding his career trajectory.

What has happened to Ben Chilwell?

Injury setbacks at Chelsea

• Chilwell was sidelined for nearly four months with a hamstring injury before returning to Chelsea’s squad on 12 January 2024 (beIN SPORTS).
• In March 2024, then-manager Mauricio Pochettino noted Chilwell had only recently recovered from a knee injury and was being assessed after a knock during international duty (The Guardian).
• Earlier, in November 2021, Chilwell suffered a knee injury against Juventus that required surgical repair after conservative rehab failed (Chelsea FC official statement).

Loan move to Strasbourg

• In August 2024, Chilwell joined Strasbourg on a season-long loan after being left out of Chelsea’s Premier League squad (BBC Sport).
• He made his debut for Strasbourg in September 2024 (Soccerbase).
• The move became permanent on 1 September 2025, with Chilwell signing a two-year deal (Chelsea FC).

Current role under Enzo Maresca

• Under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, Chilwell was not included in the first-team plans; Maresca reportedly preferred other left-back options such as Marc Cucurella (FootBoom).
• At Strasbourg, Chilwell has been deployed as a left wing-back under coach Liam Rosenior, adapting to Ligue 1’s pace.

The implication: Chilwell’s departure from Chelsea was less about ability and more about a perfect storm of injuries, tactical preference, and financial strategy.

Why did Ben Chilwell leave Chelsea?

Tactical changes under Maresca

• Enzo Maresca’s system prioritized full-backs who could invert and support midfield, a role that suited Marc Cucurella more than the attacking-minded Chilwell (BBC Sport analysis).
• Chilwell’s last start for Chelsea came on 2 March 2024 against Brentford (The Guardian).

Competition for places

• Chelsea had invested heavily in full-back depth, including the signing of Cucurella and the emergence of younger players.
• Chilwell was omitted from the matchday squad even when fit, indicating a clear hierarchy change.

Salary and squad-building decisions

• Chilwell’s estimated £190,000 weekly wage made him one of Chelsea’s highest earners, a significant factor in the club’s cost-cutting strategy under BlueCo (BBC Sport).
• BBC reported that the move to Strasbourg was structured as a permanent transfer because FIFA loan limits prevented Chelsea from sending more players on loan to the same club (BBC Sport).

What this means: Chilwell was a casualty of Chelsea’s squad rebuild, not a failure of talent. His departure was a financial and tactical decision, not a performance-based one.

How much does Ben Chilwell earn a week?

Chelsea contract terms

• Chilwell’s weekly wage at Chelsea was reported to be around £190,000, a figure from his 2020 contract extension after his £50 million move from Leicester City (BBC Sport).
• Exact figures are not officially disclosed, so estimates vary across sources.

Strasbourg wage split

• During the initial loan, Strasbourg reportedly covered a portion of his wages, with the exact split undisclosed.
• His permanent contract at Strasbourg is likely lower than his Chelsea deal, reflecting the club’s budget.

Market value estimates

• Transfermarkt values Chilwell at €20 million as of 2025, down from a peak of €48 million in 2021 (Transfermarkt).
• The decline reflects his injury record and reduced playing time at Chelsea.

The trade-off: Chilwell traded a lucrative Premier League bench role for regular first-team football in Ligue 1, accepting a likely pay cut to revive his career.

Which club does Ben Chilwell currently play for?

Strasbourg role and system

• Chilwell plays for RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1, where he has been deployed as a left wing-back under manager Liam Rosenior.
• He has been regularly competing since joining the club and has received positive reviews for his performances (BBC Sport interview).

Ligue 1 adaptation

• Strasbourg, owned by BlueCo (the same group as Chelsea), provides a familiar environment for Chilwell to adapt to a new league.
• He made his debut in September 2024 and has since been a regular starter.

International future

• Chilwell has 21 caps for England and expressed his desire to return to the national team setup (BBC Sport).
• Regular playing time at Strasbourg is his best pathway to a recall.

Why this matters: Chilwell’s choice to move to Strasbourg was deliberate. As he told BBC Sport, “It was my choice” (BBC Sport). He prioritized game time over staying at Chelsea as a fringe player.

How tall is Ben Chilwell? How old is he?

Physical profile

• Chilwell is 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and operates primarily as a left-back or left wing-back.
• He was born on 21 December 1996 in Milton Keynes, England (Wikipedia).

Early life and career start

• Chilwell began his youth career at Leicester City, progressing through the academy to make his senior debut in 2015.
• He made 99 appearances for Leicester before his £50 million move to Chelsea in August 2020 (Soccerbase).

England national team caps

• Chilwell has earned 21 caps for England as of 2025, including appearances at Euro 2020 where England reached the final (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Chilwell’s physical attributes are typical for a modern full-back, but his injury history has been the main impediment to consistent selection.

What trophies has Ben Chilwell won?

UEFA Champions League

• Chilwell was a key part of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League triumph, starting the final against Manchester City.

FA Cup

• He won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2021, contributing to the club’s domestic double success.

UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup

• In 2022, Chelsea won both the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, with Chilwell playing in both tournaments.

Euro 2020 runner-up

• Chilwell was part of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2020 (played in 2021), though he did not feature in the tournament.

The implication: Chilwell’s achievements at Chelsea cement his legacy, but his current priority is to rebuild his career and add more silverware at Strasbourg.

Timeline

• 21 Dec 1996 – Born in Milton Keynes, England.
• 2015–2020 – Youth and senior career at Leicester City (99 appearances).
• June 2020 – Transferred to Chelsea for £50 million.
• 2021–2022 – Won Champions League, FA Cup, Super Cup, Club World Cup with Chelsea.
• 2023–2024 – Injuries (hamstring, knee) limited playing time; last started for Chelsea on 2 March 2024 (The Guardian).
• August 2024 – Loaned to Strasbourg for 2024/25 season (BBC Sport).
• September 2024 – Made debut for Strasbourg (Soccerbase).
• 1 September 2025 – Permanent transfer to Strasbourg confirmed (Chelsea FC).

Clarity assessment

Perspectives

“It was my choice.”

Ben Chilwell, quoted in BBC Sport interview

Mauricio Pochettino expressed surprise at Chilwell’s major role for England given his recent knee recovery, saying he was “assessing” the player after a knock.

The Guardian, March 2024 report

Chilwell’s own words underscore that the Strasbourg move was a deliberate step to recapture his career momentum. For him, the choice was clear: regular football in Ligue 1 over a lucrative but inactive role at Chelsea.

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Frequently asked questions

For Ben Chilwell, the next chapter is about proving he can stay fit and deliver consistently. For Strasbourg, he represents a high-profile signing with Champions League pedigree. The decision is clear: perform in Ligue 1, or risk watching England’s left-back spot pass him by.