Crystal Palace are weighing up a late move to bring Ben Chilwell back to Selhurst Park before the transfer window slams shut, with the left-back’s spell at Strasbourg proving short-lived.
Chilwell left Chelsea for Strasbourg on a permanent deal in September 2025 after falling out of favour under then manager Enzo Maresca, but he’s struggled for game time in Ligue 1 and could now be tempted by a reunion with the Eagles. The 29-year-old spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Palace, featuring in their FA Cup-winning run before returning to Chelsea and being moved on to Strasbourg.
According to Ben Jacobs, Palace have retained an interest in a player they know well from that loan spell, and see a fresh opportunity to bring him back permanently on the cheap, with his contract set to expire in summer 2027. Interestingly, the Englishman is represented by the same agency, CAA Stellar, who facilitated Yeremy Pino’s move to SE25.
Chelsea sold Chilwell to Strasbourg without disclosing a fee, but he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Leicester in 2020 for a reported £50m, making him one of the most expensive full-backs of his generation, and scooping a 21-cap England international up for a nominal cost this late in the window would have to be seen as good business by Steve Parish and Co, even if it’s not the blockbuster signing fans may have hoped for.
|
Chilwell’s career so far |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Leicester City |
123 |
4 |
12 |
|
Chelsea FC |
107 |
9 |
13 |
|
RC Strasbourg |
34 |
0 |
3 |
|
Crystal Palace |
11 |
1 |
0 |
|
Huddersfield Town |
8 |
0 |
0 |
Malick Fofana saga rumbling on
Of course, the deal fans are really intrigued by is Lyon winger Malick Fofana, who has been on the brink of joining both Palace and Sunderland about three times each this week.
The 21 year-old was all set to join Sunderland in a £30m deadline day deal only for the Eagles to hijack proceedings, but things then swung back towards the Stadium of Light when the Black Cats made a second play at his agents.
However, Palace appear to be in the driving seat once more, with Foot Mercato reporting the Belgian’s family members are requesting fees as part of the move that Sunderland do not want to pay, forcing the Wearsiders to turn towards Cameroon and Levante star Karl Etta Eyong.
Lyon themselves are desperate to sort a deal out, as they cannot register their own new signing, AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana, until the winger leaves, and there are even claims in the French media the player has undergone a medical without knowing which club it’s for.
Whether those at Selhurst Park are willing to sign on the dotted line given all the complications and drama remains to be seen.
