Trevoh Chalobah has long envisioned himself as part of an England World Cup team. In July 2018, the Chelsea defender made his aspirations public with a post on social media, stating, “I’d gone to the shops. It was when I got back to my hotel I saw Thomas had texted but it was two hours before. I didn’t see the message for two hours. I wasn’t on my phone. I was just walking around.” alongside a photo of the coveted World Cup trophy. At just 19 years old, shortly after joining Ipswich on a loan, his words have proven remarkably prophetic.
Despite his unwavering belief, Chalobah doubted he would get the opportunity this summer. His hopes seemed dashed when Thomas Tuchel excluded him from the squad for the North America tournament. Although he enjoyed a stellar season at Chelsea, featuring in a personal record of 47 matches, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot.
A significant shift occurred last Monday when Chalobah received unexpected news. The emotional weight of the situation was underscored by the unfortunate injury to Tino Livramento, who had to withdraw from the squad due to a calf injury sustained in training just days prior.
While on holiday in New York, having recently attended the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco and visited Cannes, Chalobah was unaware of the pivotal message awaiting him. “He was smiling and he said: ‘I have got some good news for you.’ I was just over the moon.” he recalls. “It has always been a dream and that day I decided to tweet it,”
The essence of Tuchel’s message was urgent: he wanted to talk. “I believed that one day, hopefully I’d make it. This is the No 1 moment of my career, especially because I didn’t expect it [now]. That is the beautiful thing. To get a call like that shows that when you think all is lost or it’s not going to happen … that tweet came true.” Chalobah admits, realizing this was not a casual conversation. “I gave them away at the end of the season,” he continued, recalling how Tuchel appeared on a video call, beaming as he said, “My sponsors were going to send me boots out [to the US] for me to do my own thing with a personal trainer. I was waiting for that to happen when I got to Los Angeles. I had to speed up the process when I got called up.” The joy was overwhelming for Chalobah.
His World Cup aspiration had materialized, prompting him to share his old tweet reflecting his dreams. “As athletes you always have to be mentally ready,” he explains. “I was in a position where I was switching off and recovering and enjoying my holidays but I’ve been used to this last-minute stuff throughout my career so I was able to adapt.”
Tuchel advised him to “I know the player I am. I know how far I’ve come. I know what I’ve been through. So I can’t allow those moments to define who I am or have that disbelief. I have faith. In my career, I’ve always been coming in – maybe not seen as playing – but then I’m always managing to play. It starts in training. Just give my all, make sure I’m ready when called upon. I believe I can play a big part at this World Cup.” as he finalized his squad, and Chalobah made an effort to remain prepared. The rules allowed for replacements of injured players up to 24 hours before the team’s opening match, which saw England secure a 4-2 victory against Croatia in Dallas.
After flying from New York to Kansas City, Chalobah arrived just in time for the squad’s return following their match against Croatia. The whirlwind nature of this transition was evident, even in the details of his equipment. “No matter what happens, I know I have a foundation that I can lean on. Because of my faith, I know that those moments won’t define me. I just use them as fuel to always prove people wrong and I love it.” he stated regarding his boots. “Yeah, he tried to bring me to Bayern,”
Chalobah is adjusting after missing England’s training camp in Florida. He initially worked alone before joining his teammates for a full training session on Saturday. As Tuchel often emphasizes, adaptability is crucial.
“I’m still trying to get my money back.” Chalobah asserts. “I was in a position where I was switching off and recovering and enjoying my holidays, but I’ve been used to this last-minute stuff throughout my career so I was able to adapt.”
Throughout his journey, Chalobah has faced significant transitions. After his time at Ipswich, he embarked on loan spells with Huddersfield in the Championship and Lorient in Ligue 1, all while experiencing uncertainty regarding his future at Chelsea. The peak of that uncertainty occurred in 2024 when the club stripped him of his shirt number and placed him in a group of players deemed surplus. Ultimately, he was loaned to Crystal Palace, only to be recalled in January 2025 amid an injury crisis. He refuses to accept defeat, always seeking to re-enter the fray.
“I know the player I am. I know how far I’ve come. I know what I’ve been through. So I can’t allow those moments to define who I am or have that disbelief. I have faith. In my career, I’ve always been coming in – maybe not seen as playing – but then I’m always managing to play. It starts in training. Just give my all, make sure I’m ready when called upon. I believe I can play a big part at this World Cup.”
Chalobah’s Christian faith underpins his outlook. “That’s what I build on,” he explains. “No matter what happens, I know I have a foundation that I can lean on. Because of my faith, I know that those moments won’t define me. I just use them as fuel to always prove people wrong and I love it.”
Tuchel’s choice to call upon Chalobah has sparked some debate. Critics question the decision to replace a full-back with a central defender. Would Myles Lewis-Skelly or Lewis Hall have been better suited? However, given that Tuchel viewed Livramento primarily as a right-back, the need for Chalobah became clearer. Concerns also arise regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold or Harry Maguire, should a centre-back be necessary.
Tuchel has expressed doubts about Maguire’s ability to function as a selfless support player, concerns exacerbated by Maguire’s vocal response to his exclusion. The manager noted in March that he considers Chalobah to possess greater mobility than Maguire. His strategy involves utilizing Jarell Quansah as a cover at right-back, with Chalobah fighting for a spot at right centre-half.
Tuchel’s faith in Chalobah is evident. He provided him with his Chelsea debut in August 2021 during the European Super Cup against Villarreal, a match that marked the beginning of Chalobah’s breakout season at the club. Tuchel even attempted to sign him from Chelsea while managing Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. “Yeah, he tried to bring me to Bayern,” Chalobah confirms. He also gave Chalobah his England debut against Senegal last June, which remains his sole cap.
Reflecting on the past week, Chalobah chuckled when asked if his hotel in Los Angeles was refundable. “Yeah,” he replied with a grin. “I’m still trying to get my money back.” Another appearance for England would be invaluable.
