Leicester City’s three biggest transfer swindles rated and explained

Third: Ex-Leicester City man, Ben Chilwell

The most recent high-profile departure for the Foxes, Ben Chilwell was sold to Chelsea at the end of the 2019/20 season. The left back was a product of the club’s youth system, rising through the age groups and eventually breaking his way into the squad in 2017.

Chilwell looked like the real deal when he started playing consistent football for City, improving season upon season; eventually being rewarded with his first of 17 England caps in 2018. Perhaps his best asset whilst at LCFC was his link up play with Harvey Barnes on the left flank – whenever those two clicked, it spelt danger for opponents. Perhaps the best example of this would be the 9-0 demolition job of Southampton in 2019, in which Chilwell opened the scoring.

However, it was that 2019/20 season in which things started to go downhill for Chilwell at Leicester. Having already penned a new deal at the club, it started to become clear that Chilwell’s days in the Midlands were numbered.

Soon his performances started to become much softer, and his true frailties started to show. His commitment in the tackle dipped, as did his energy in attack. An absolute stunner against Watford aside, when the season resumed during the 2020 summer lockdown, Chilwell looked a ghost of his former self.

This eventually led to his controversial performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals. By that time, Chelsea’s interest in him has been widely talked about, but the way he played against them would have had you believe that he was already their player. His tackles were half-hearted and after the loss he seemed as happy as Larry.

Come the end of the season, Chilwell departed having made 123 appearances for the Foxes. He didn’t come cheap though, as the Blues had to pay £45m for the Englishman. Fans were hoping for a higher fee for him, but in the wake of the pandemic, £45m was a really good price for a want-away player.

Now 25, Chilwell has played 54 games for the London-side, though he sustained a cruel ACL injury in November which will see him out until the end of the season. Credit to him, in London he has reached a higher level, especially in attack – already scoring 7 goals for the Blues.

As for Leicester, rather than sign an out-and-out left back as a replacement, they chose to use and develop James Justin and Luke Thomas, and what a decision that has turned out to be. Justin, at his peak before injury, has already proved to be a much better fit at Leicester City, and Thomas is growing into an incredibly strong option. It’s fair to say that this move worked out for everyone, more than can be said for the final two players.