Chelsea manager Frank Lampard sees Ben Chilwell as the ideal stylistic fit for his team in the left-back position, according to the defender himself. The Blues confirmed that they had completed a £50million deal on Wednesday evening.
Chilwell becomes Chelsea’s third signing of the summer, following Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner in linking up with Lampard’s charges.
The England international, 23, signs a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge with director Marina Granovskaia insisting the west London club believe he is “a fantastic addition to the squad needed to challenge for honours”.
Having secured Champions League football last season in Lampard’s first campaign, the objective for the 2020-21 season is to win trophies and to bridge the gap to Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League.
And Chilwell will help shore up a defence who leaked 54 goals in the league last season, with Lampard confident he can eke plenty out of his countryman at the top end of the pitch too.
“Massively important,” Chilwell said when asked about how big Lampard’s role was in convincing him to make the move.
“I obviously wanted to play for a massive club, that’s what everyone wants for their whole career, but talking to Frank before I came was one of the main reasons that I wanted to come.
“He’s installed a lot of confidence in me, told me how much the system suits the way I play and just seems like a really good guy who you can talk about stuff away from football to.
“I think that’s very important for a young player, a manager that you can get on with and talk to stuff about.
“He’s very keen on young players, you’ve seen that since he’s been here and talking to him was a massive, massive reason for me wanting to come.
“When I spoke to the gaffer, he installed what I already knew, that this system really does suit me.
“When I watch Chelsea play and I look at the full-backs and think, ‘That’s perfect for me! That’s my game down to a t.’
“I literally can’t wait to get started and hopefully many great years here to come.”
Lampard is Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer and has played a significant role in the club’s business so far.
It is thought he has also convinced Kai Havertz to agree personal terms with the Blues ahead of a proposed £90million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Centre-backs Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva are also set to join Chelsea this week on free transfers after their contracts with Nice and Paris Saint-Germain ran out.
And Chilwell revealed his ambitions to enjoy a career as successful as his new manager.
Chilwell added: “Of course, when you work under a manager who was a player himself, I think that’s really important.
“He was a great player not just for Chelsea but for England as well and hopefully he can help me a lot with my career over the next however long and give me a lot of advice to help me hopefully have as good a career as he had.
“It was a tough decision in terms of leaving a lot of good friends [behind at Leicester]. It’s kind of like home to me, I’ve been there since I was 11, 12 years old so in that respect it was difficult.
“In terms of my career and what a great club Chelsea is, it was an easy decision for myself.”
Chilwell will hope to make his debut against Brighton in Chelsea’s first Premier League game of the new season on September 14.