Chelsea have undergone an enormous midfield rebuild in recent times, phasing out the outdated guard of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Jorginho.
Underneath Thomas Tuchel, that midfield configuration received the Champions League in 2021. Nevertheless, as all three had been ageing, the Blues knew {that a} rebuild in that space of the pitch was looming.
This has led to an enormous spending spree on that space of the pitch, buying Moises Caicedo, Roméo Lavia, and Enzo Fernández for a mixed complete of €299.10m (simply over £250m).
Fernandez made 40 appearances for the Londoners final season, scoring seven objectives and offering three assists, Moises Caicedo made 48 appearances, scoring as soon as and supplying 4 assists, while Lavia solely managed one look, as a result of damage struggles.
A kind of who was phased out by Todd Boehly to accommodate these new faces was Scot, Billy Gilmour.
The primary impressions of Billy Gilmour
Chelsea signed Gilmour again in 2017 from Rangers, shopping for the 15-year-old on the time for round £500,000. The midfielder rapidly turned outstanding within the Chelsea youth ranks, making 79 appearances for the U18, U19, and U21 groups.
Gilmour earned his senior name up below Frank Lampard, showing in pre-season for the Blues in 2019, earlier than making his Premier League debut in August 2019, and beginning his first recreation for Chelsea, within the EFL Cup towards Grimsby in September.
One other Chelsea academy graduate, Patrick van Aanholt, praised Gilmour calling him “principally N’Golo Kante” in a efficiency for Scotland, and possibly Chelsea missed a trick by promoting him for such a small price, even when they did rake in an enormous revenue, with the previous academy man becoming a member of Brighton for simply £9m in 2022.
Billy Gilmour’s stats since leaving Chelsea
The younger Scot made 60 appearances for Brighton, rapidly establishing himself as a key participant for Roberto De Zerbi after Graham Potter left to take over Chelsea, weeks after Gilmour’s arrival. The midfielder even said it is “wonderful” to play for De Zerbi, saying his robust love spurred him on to carry out higher.
Gilmour made 41 appearances for Brighton within the 2023/24 marketing campaign in all competitions, offering two assists, and contributing to 9 clear sheets in his 2,926 minutes performed.
Gilmour vs Fernandez & Caicedo (23/24) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Stats (per 90 minutes) | Gilmour | Fernandez | Caicedo |
Targets + Assists | 0.06 | 0.29 | 0.11 |
Progressive Carries | 1.62 | 2.12 | 0.85 |
Progressive Passes | 7.68 | 8.57 | 5.44 |
Photographs Complete | 0.96 | 1.90 | 0.44 |
Passes Tried | 84.2 | 76.0 | 66.6 |
Go Completion % | 90.8% | 84.5% | 90.0% |
Key Passes | 0.83 | 1.31 | 0.72 |
Passes into Last Third | 7.09 | 7.22 | 5.53 |
Tackles | 1.03 | 2.04 | 2.86 |
Interceptions | 0.52 | 0.73 | 1.10 |
Stats taken from FBref | |||
Evaluating Gilmour to Chelsea’s midfielders final season reveals how intently he really ranks in lots of metrics. Firstly, Gilmour averaged essentially the most move makes an attempt per 90, with 84.2, in comparison with Fernandez’s 76.0 per 90, and Caicedo’s 66.6 per 90.
He additionally averages the best move completion charge, with these passing stats displaying his comfy he’s on the ball, and a willingness to manage the sport with excessive move quantity and touches.
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The Scotland worldwide does rank lowest in defensive metrics. Nevertheless, being solely 5 foot 7, his athleticism and energy aren’t a key part of his recreation, and often this is able to be offered by a midfield accomplice, with a view to strike steadiness.
Gilmour’s spectacular Brighton spell has earned him a transfer to Napoli, becoming a member of them this summer time for an preliminary price of £12m, with add-ons value a possible additional £4m.
The 23-year-old is but to enter his prime years, and will nonetheless find yourself being an enormous mistake for Chelsea, letting the proficient midfielder go for therefore low-cost.
