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.
 Gilchrist with Chelsea in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alfie Gilchrist | ||
| Date of birth | 28 November 2003 | ||
| 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) | 20 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:54, 16 December 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editEarly career
editBorn 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
editGilchrist joined Chelsea at under-11 level in 2014 and was deployed as a centre-back.[3] He was compared to John Terry[4][5] and saw him as an idol due to his position and his 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]
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
editOn 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
editGilchrist 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
edit- As of match played 14 September 2024[25]
| 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 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |
| Career total | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
Honours
editChelsea
Individual
References
edit- ^ a b Alfie Gilchrist at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b "Teenage Kicks: Alfie Gilchrist". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "19-year-old Chelsea youngster Alfie Gilchrist arrives with squad to face Man Utd| All Football". AllfootballOfficial. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea: Gilchrist can be John Terry 2.0". FootballFanCast. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Who is Alfie Gilchrist, where can he play and when did he sign for Chelsea?". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Alfie Gilchrist". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nominees for Premier League 2 Player of the Season". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Alfie Gilchrist nominated for PL2 Player of the Season award!". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Man Utd v Chelsea, 2022/23 | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Coley, Tom (25 May 2023). "Chelsea have 'next John Terry' in Alfie Gilchrist after Man Utd reward". Football.London. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea revolution starts for Pochettino with new signings and starlets ready to step up". talkSPORT. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ "Wesley Fofana surgery blow for Chelsea". Anglo Celt. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ Kinsella, Nizaar (22 July 2023). "Sheffield United eye Chelsea U21 captain Alfie Gilchrist". Evening Standard. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Gilchrist signs new Chelsea contract". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Law, Matt (2 April 2024). "Chelsea tie down Alfie Gilchrist to new deal". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Report: Chelsea 6-0 Everton". Chelsea F.C. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ "Welcome, Alfie". Sheffield United F.C. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Relegated Sheffield United got off to a winning start back in the Championship with a comfortable victory at Preston". 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Gilchrist reveals family ties to Chelsea in programme". www.chelseafc.com.
- ^ "Esher High PE". Twitter. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Alfie Gilchrist at Soccerway
- ^ McNulty, Phil (25 February 2024). "Carabao Cup final: Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "End of Season Award winners revealed!". chelseafc.com. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
External links
edit
- Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website