OFFICIAL: Chelsea loan Champions League winner in big boost to wage bill battle | OneFootball

Ben Chilwell has completed a loan move to Crystal Palace, the club have just confirmed.

That ends a nightmare period of purgatory at Chelsea for the left back, who has played just one half of football since the summer. Enzo Maresca decided immediately he didn’t want to use the left back in his system, and decided against reintegrating him even once the summer window had closed without Chilwell getting a move away.

Now, finally, a compromise has been found on his wages, and Palace, Chilwell and Chelsea all get a positive development. It’s a straight loan, with some sort of loan fee and wage split, but no option to buy. So it may well be that this saga starts all over again in the summer if there are a shortage of offers once again.

The 28 year old will have two years left on his deal come this summer, so his book value will hopefully start to decline to the point where a transfer is affordable for a number of clubs.

Chilwell and Chelsea can finally move on after stunning demise of positive relationship

An unhappy Ben Chilwell captains Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Chilwell’s time at Chelsea has been a pretty amazing rollercoaster – from a key player in a Champions League win to some really difficult periods with injury, to sitting in the stands week in, week out through 6 months of your prime while Renato Veiga gets minutes ahead of you.

Despite all that, the left back has never made a fuss (even when it would be totally justified, according to most people), and Enzo Maresca praised his professionalism when discussed the awkward situation Chilwell has found himself in.

Good luck at Palace, Ben! We really hope to see you back to your best and earning a good move for the summer.