Alfie Gilchrist

English footballer (born 2003)
Alfie Gilchrist
Gilchrist with Chelsea in 2018
Personal information
Full name Alfie Gilchrist
Date of birth (2003-11-28) 28 November 2003 (age 20)
Place of birth Kingston upon Thames, London, England[1]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, right-back
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 42
Youth career
Old Isleworthians
0000–2014 Queens Park Rangers
2014–2023 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Chelsea 9 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 April 2024

Alfie Gilchrist (born 28 November 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for Premier League club Chelsea.

Club career

Early career

Born in Kingston upon Thames, London, Gilchrist started his career at local side Old Isleworthians Youth F.C. and Queens Park Rangers, playing as a right-wing and central midfielder in his early teens.[2]

Chelsea

Gilchrist joined Chelsea at under-11 level in 2014 and was deployed as a centre-back.[3] Gilchrist was compared to John Terry[4][5] and saw him as an idol due to his position and the status as an academy player of Chelsea.[2]

Gilchrist signed his first professional contract in November 2020.[6] He captained the academy team that reached the FA Youth Cup semi-finals and also won the Under-18 Premier League Cup in 2021–22 season.[7] Gilchrist took over captain duties for the Under-23s in February 2023,[8] he was nominated for the PL2 Player of the Season award in 2022–23 season.[9][10]

On 26 May 2023, Gilchrist was named among the substitutes for a Premier League tie with Manchester United.[11][12] He was included in Chelsea pre-season tour squad in preparation of 2023–24 season,[13][14] and came on as a substitute at half-time in a 5–0 win against Wrexham.[15]

Gilchrist in the UEFA Youth League in 2021

On 19 September 2023, he signed a new contract with the club until June 2025.[16] On 27 December, Gilchrist made his senior debut, subbed-on in the stoppage time, in a 2–1 win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.[17] Gilchrist's first start for the senior squad came on 6 January 2024, in Chelsea's 4–0 defeat of Preston North End in the FA Cup.[18]

On 2 April 2024, Gilchrist signed a new contract with Chelsea, keeping him at the club until 2026.[19]

On 15 April 2024, after coming on as an 88th minute substitute for Malo Gusto, Gilchrist scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 6–0 win over Everton.[20]

Personal life

Gilchrist is a boyhood Chelsea fan, as his grandfather and father used to be season ticket holders.[21] He attended Esher Church of England High School in Esher.[22]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 April 2024[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea U21 2021–22 — — — 3[a] 0 3 0
2022–23 — — — 4[a] 0 4 0
2023–24 — — — 2[a] 0 2 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0
Chelsea 2023–24 Premier League 9 1 4 0 2 0 — 15 1
Career total 9 1 4 0 2 0 9 0 24 1
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Chelsea

References

  1. ^ a b Alfie Gilchrist at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Teenage Kicks: Alfie Gilchrist". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  3. ^ "19-year-old Chelsea youngster Alfie Gilchrist arrives with squad to face Man Utd| All Football". AllfootballOfficial. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  4. ^ "Chelsea: Gilchrist can be John Terry 2.0". FootballFanCast. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  5. ^ Brus, Mark (2021-12-08). "Exclusive: Chelsea scout Sean Conlon on the academy's success and the wonderkid who looks like "the next John Terry"". CaughtOffside. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  6. ^ "Who is Alfie Gilchrist, where can he play and when did he sign for Chelsea?". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  7. ^ "Alfie Gilchrist". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  8. ^ Banerjee, Apratim (2023-05-25). "Who is Alfie Gilchrist? Meet 19-year-old Chelsea star named in first-team squad to face Manchester United". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  9. ^ "Nominees for Premier League 2 Player of the Season". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  10. ^ "Alfie Gilchrist nominated for PL2 Player of the Season award!". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  11. ^ "Man Utd v Chelsea, 2022/23 | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  12. ^ Coley, Tom (2023-05-25). "Chelsea have 'next John Terry' in Alfie Gilchrist after Man Utd reward". Football.London. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  13. ^ "Chelsea revolution starts for Pochettino with new signings and starlets ready to step up". talkSPORT. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  14. ^ "Wesley Fofana surgery blow for Chelsea". Anglo Celt. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  15. ^ Kinsella, Nizaar (2023-07-22). "Sheffield United eye Chelsea U21 captain Alfie Gilchrist". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  16. ^ "Gilchrist signs new Chelsea contract". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  17. ^ "John Terry tips Alfie Gilchrist, 20, to become the next academy star to impact Chelsea first-team... before the defender makes his Blues debut during 2-1 win over Crystal Palace". football.co.uk. 28 December 2023.
  18. ^ Smyth, Rob (2024-01-06). "Chelsea 4-0 Preston North End: FA Cup third round – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  19. ^ Law, Matt (2024-04-02). "Chelsea tie down Alfie Gilchrist to new deal". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  20. ^ "Report: Chelsea 6-0 Everton". Chelsea F.C. 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  21. ^ "Gilchrist reveals family ties to Chelsea in programme". www.chelseafc.com.
  22. ^ "Esher High PE". Twitter. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  23. ^ Alfie Gilchrist at Soccerway
  24. ^ McNulty, Phil (25 February 2024). "Carabao Cup final: Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2024.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfie Gilchrist.
  • Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website
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Chelsea F.C. – current squad