Palace’s latest loan signing is a man who has played – and indeed scored – at the highest level, so let's take a look back at Ben Chilwell’s career in pictures below…
Born in Milton Keynes, Chilwell started his career at Leicester City, first joining the Foxes at the age of 12 before developing his game through the different age groups.
Chilwell won the Foxes' Academy Player of the Year award for the 2014/15 season and his first-team debut would follow only a few months later, in October against Hull City.
One month on, the attacking full-back was loaned to Championship club Huddersfield Town in a bid to gain first-team experience.
The move proved crucial to Chilwell’s development, the player himself later crediting the short spell in Yorkshire with assisting his own personal growth.
Returning to Leicester in January 2016, Chilwell featured in FA Cup ties that season, although he wasn’t required for league duty, while the Foxes pulled off an incredible feat by winning the title.
His own personal breakthrough would come the following season. As well as making a Champions League debut, Chilwell featured 12 times in the Premier League.
The full-back would go on to make 123 senior appearances for Leicester across five seasons.
During his time in the East Midlands, Chilwell also made his England debut, coincidentally at the King Power Stadium, featuring in the Three Lions' 1-0 win over Switzerland.
Becoming a regular member of the squad under Sir Gareth Southgate, his first start followed in a 0-0 draw with Croatia – Chilwell often involved as England finished third in the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
He was also part of the Three Lions squad at Euro 2020, where England narrowly lost out on a first major tournament victory since 1966 – losing on penalties to Italy in the final.
Signing for Chelsea in the summer of 2020, Chilwell would have one of the greatest nights of his career at the end of his maiden season in blue.
Chilwell completed the full 90 minutes as a left wing-back, as his side won the Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in Porto.
A European night was also the scene for one of his greatest challenges the following season, with Chilwell sustaining a serious knee injury in a Champions League tie with Juventus.
That kept him out for the rest of the season, but he returned to full fitness ahead of the following campaign and regained his place in Thomas Tuchel’s team.
In August 2023, Chilwell was named as the club’s vice-captain. This meant, with regular skipper Reece James injured, Chilwell captained the Chelsea team in the 2024 League Cup final.
Although it didn’t end with Chilwell lifting the trophy, the Blues going down 1-0 to Liverpool, it was still a proud moment for the full-back.
The next chapter in the story of Ben Chilwell? We’re about to find out….
Welcome to Palace, Ben!
