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Alfie Gilchrist

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 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, right-back
Team information
Current team
 Sheffield United
(on loan from Chelsea)
Number 2
Youth career
–2014 Queens Park Rangers
2014–2023 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Chelsea 11 (1)
2024– → Sheffield United (loan) 15 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:29, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

Alfie Gilchrist (born 28 November 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for EFL Championship club Sheffield United, on loan from Premier League club Chelsea.

Club career

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Early career

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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

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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 the 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's pre-season tour squad in preparation for the 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 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]

Loan to Sheffield United

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On 7 August 2024, Gilchrist was loaned out to EFL Championship side Sheffield United on a season-long deal.[21] He made his debut for the club on 10 August in the league in a 2-0 win against Preston North End.[22]

Personal life

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Gilchrist is a boyhood Chelsea fan, as his grandfather and father used to be season ticket holders.[23] He attended Esher Church of England High School in Esher.[24]

Career statistics

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As of match played 14 September 2024[25]
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 11 1 4 0 2 0 — 17 1
Sheffield United (loan) 2024–25 Championship 5 0 0 0 1 0 — 6 0
Career total 16 1 4 0 3 0 9 0 32 1
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Chelsea

Individual

References

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