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 21)
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)	28	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:36, 26 January 2025 (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

Early career

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

Gilchrist 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]

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

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

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

As of match played 20 January 2025 ^[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	26	0	1	0	1	0	—		28	0
Career total			37	1	5	0	3	0	9	0	45	1

1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Chelsea

• EFL Cup runner-up: 2023–24 ^[26]

Individual

• Chelsea's Academy Player Of The Year: 2024 ^[27]

References

1. Alfie Gilchrist at WorldFootball.net
2. "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.

External links

• Profile at the Chelsea F.C. website