The forgotten £200,000-a-week footballer: Inside what life’s like for Ben Chilwell, the last star standing of Chelsea’s bomb squad – and what comes next

England’s left-back for the Republic of Ireland was Levi Colwill, a centre-back. For Finland it was Rico Lewis, a right-back. Ben Chilwell represented his country as recently as March and yet, even in such a shortage, he has never been so far from the Three Lions’ line-up.

That’s because Chilwell hasn’t trained with Chelsea’s first team, let alone played in the Premier League as a 27-year-old Englishman who should actually be in the prime of his career.

Health is not the issue. Chilwell took part in the pre-season tour of the United States, attending every training session and two matches after his annual tradition of emerging triumphant from the club’s test runs alongside Malo Gusto.

His attitude is no different either. Last season, the vice-captain threw himself into ambassadorial work during that trip, visiting the home of a Chelsea fan named Bradley in Atlanta in his spare time.

The problem is that, like Raheem Sterling, he found out upon his return to London that he didn’t fit into Enzo Maresca’s plans for the first team. There had been hints in the States, with Chelsea’s new head coach naming all the other left-backs as he spoke to the assembled journalists in Santa Clara about who suited his style of play, but the confirmation was no less damning.

Chilwell is facing a similar situation to Raheem Sterling, who has left on loan at Arsenal

New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (pictured) does not see Chilwell as a first-team regular

The difference between Sterling and Chilwell now is that one secured his move – reportedly an upgrade by joining Mikel Arteta’s title contenders Arsenal, with Chelsea subsidising his salary – while the other is the forgotten footballer on a salary of around £200,000-a-week.

Chelsea would rather let him play for the next four months than see him end up in purgatory. At the moment, however, it seems likely that Chilwell will stay. Yesterday, sources reported that he is not close to a move to a country where the transfer window is still open.

The same goes for Turkey, where Jose Mourinho is rumoured to be bringing him to Fenerbahce after they sold left-back Ferdi Kadioglu to Brighton. Unless there is a dramatic change between now and Friday evening, when the Turkish transfer window closes, Chilwell will remain at Cobham until at least January.

Those who know Chilwell well believe there is no point in letting him go unused. They argue that it is better to put your player on display than to put him in storage and ruin your chances of getting anywhere near the £50m you paid Leicester in August 2020.

They also revealed how Chilwell had hoped to be included in last week’s Conference League squad submitted to UEFA so he could get some game time. Even if it were in the form of a trip to Kazakhstan in December to face Astana, where temperatures can drop so low the climate freezes nose hairs, beggars can’t be choosers.

Sources claim he was warned in advance that Chelsea would leave out a number of their star players, including Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, in order to manage their minutes. But when the squad was confirmed for the next phase of the Conference League, in which Chelsea play six games, Chilwell was ignored.

Chilwell has also lost his place in the England line-up and is determined to be recalled one day

Chilwell is fully fit after completing pre-season training with Chelsea, including a tour of the US

Chilwell has not trained with Chelsea’s first team, let alone played in the Premier League as a 27-year-old Englishman who should be in the prime of his career

This Friday, Chelsea will announce the squad of 25 players they have submitted for the Premier League. At least eight must be ‘home-grown’ and Chilwell qualifies for that category, but Maresca has already insisted that those training separately under him will be sidelined.

If ruled out as expected, the Carabao Cup remains Chilwell’s only hope of competitive football between now and the next window opening. League Two Barrow visit Stamford Bridge in the third round of that competition in two weeks’ time and, again, sources say Chilwell would be more than happy to take part if given the chance.

Chelsea refused to comment on plans for Chilwell on Tuesday, nor who he is currently training with at Cobham. Many members of the club’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ have already left, from Trevoh Chalobah to Crystal Palace and Kepa Arrizabalaga to Bournemouth.

Chilwell received offers from Premier League clubs in the summer. His name surfaced in talks with Manchester United over Jadon Sancho, but the 24-year-old eventually signed on his own accord on a loan deal with an obligation to buy.

Brentford were also looking for a left-back, but sources at the Bees say Chilwell was never on their shortlist, with 18-year-old Jayden Meghoma eventually signed from Southampton as a rival to Rico Henry.

Inevitably, Chilwell’s wages will pose a problem in Chelsea’s search for a potential buyer, along with his injury history, which has seen him suffer more setbacks than he would have liked.

Chilwell previously won the Champions League with Chelsea during his early years at the club

Chelsea were silent on Tuesday when asked about their plans for Chilwell

Chilwell, known to all as ‘Chilly’, is popular within Chelsea. He was one of the few who stayed at the club before the new owners took over in May 2022 and has been a mentor to the younger hopefuls. Maresca himself describes him as a ‘nice guy’ but warned that he will ‘struggle’ to get back under him.

Whatever the outcome, it’s an unfortunate turn of events for the left-back who has ‘1235’ tattooed under his left knee, signifying his pride at being the 1235th player to represent England. As the Three Lions stepped onto the hallowed turf of Wembley last night, he could only wonder when he would get that chance again.