Trevoh Chalobah has always dreamed of representing England in a World Cup. Back in July 2018, the Chelsea defender shared his ambition publicly, posting on social media, “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 picture of the World Cup trophy. At that time, he was only 19, having just joined Ipswich on loan in the Championship. That tweet has now taken on a prophetic meaning.
Despite his earlier optimism, Chalobah did not expect this summer to be the moment he realized his dream. His hopes were momentarily shattered when Thomas Tuchel excluded him from the squad for the North American tournament. After a standout season at Chelsea, where he made a personal-best 47 appearances, he suddenly found himself on the sidelines.
A pivotal change occurred last Monday, shifting his perspective dramatically. The emotional rollercoaster began when Tino Livramento had to withdraw from Tuchel’s squad due to a calf injury sustained during training.
While vacationing in New York with a friend, Chalobah had just returned from the Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco and a short trip to Cannes before arriving in the Big Apple, where he was set to fly to Los Angeles next.
Interestingly, Chalobah initially overlooked Tuchel’s urgent message. “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 core of the England manager’s communication was clear: “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’s response was immediate. “I gave them away at the end of the season,” he reflects, understanding that this wasn’t just a casual chat. “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.” he adds. Shortly after, he was on a video call with Tuchel, who greeted him with a smile and shared, “As athletes you always have to be mentally ready,” Chalobah was ecstatic.
His aspiration to compete in the World Cup materialized, prompting him to share his past tweet again. “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.” he explains about his 2018 post. “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.”
Tuchel encouraged Chalobah to “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.” when announcing his squad, and the defender worked diligently to keep himself fit. England allows for replacements of injured outfield players up to 24 hours before their first match, which occurred last Wednesday in Dallas, where they triumphed 4-2 over Croatia.
Chalobah flew from New York to Kansas City, arriving just in time to join the squad after the Croatia match. The swift developments have even impacted his gear. “Yeah, he tried to bring me to Bayern,” he mentions. “I’m still trying to get my money back.”
Adjusting has proven challenging for Chalobah after missing England’s preparation camp in Florida. He started training individually before participating in his first full session with the squad on Saturday. As Tuchel often underscores, adaptability is essential.
“As athletes you always have to be mentally ready,” Chalobah states. “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.”
Chalobah’s career has been marked by significant transitions. Following his time at Ipswich, he enjoyed loan spells at Huddersfield in the Championship and Lorient in Ligue 1, all while facing uncertainty about his future at Chelsea during several pre-seasons. This uncertainty peaked in 2024 when the club stripped him of his shirt number and placed him in the so-called bomb squad of players available for transfer. Eventually, he was loaned to Crystal Palace but was recalled in January 2025 to help with an injury crisis. He refuses to accept a closed door without making an effort to reopen it.
“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 is foundational to his life. “That’s what I build on,” he shares. “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 up Chalobah has surprised some observers. Questions have arisen about why a central defender was selected to replace a full-back. Could Myles Lewis-Skelly or Lewis Hall have been more appropriate? However, both primarily play as left-backs, while Tuchel viewed Livramento mainly as a right-back. The discussion also included Trent Alexander-Arnold and the need for a centre-half like Harry Maguire.
Tuchel has expressed concerns about Maguire’s capacity to be a supportive player, worries that have been compounded by the Manchester United defender’s vocal response to his exclusion. The manager indicated in March that he believed Chalobah to be more agile than Maguire. Tuchel intends to use Jarell Quansah for right-back coverage, potentially even at left-back, while Chalobah competes for the right centre-back position.
Tuchel has confidence in Chalobah. He handed him his Chelsea debut in August 2021 during the European Super Cup against Villarreal, marking the beginning of his breakthrough season at the club. He attempted to lure Chalobah from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 while at Bayern Munich. “Yeah, he tried to bring me to Bayern,” Chalobah confirms. The manager also provided him with his England debut against Senegal last June, which remains his only cap.
Reflecting on the past week, Chalobah was asked if his hotel in Los Angeles was refundable. “Yeah,” he replied with a smile. “I’m still trying to get my money back.” Another appearance for England would be invaluable.
