Chelsea have recalled defender Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace.
The 25-year-old will boost Chelsea’s squad after hamstring injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile limited manager Enzo Maresca’s defensive options.
The decision to recall Chalobah was made on Tuesday on the eve of Palace’s match at Leicester in the Premier League, before a deadline to use the clause later this month.
The move may be considered controversial given Palace had to withdraw Chalobah at short notice from their 1-0 FA Cup win over Stockport County on Sunday.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner initially described the situation as a “contractual issue” before further explaining on Tuesday: “He wants to stay here but it’s a decision Chelsea can take.”
Chalobah was a regular starter at Selhurst Park, making 14 appearances over his four-and-a-half-month spell in south London.
The central defender was previously considered surplus to requirements at Chelsea and trained away from the first team in a group nicknamed ‘the bomb squad’, a group of a dozen players unwanted by Chelsea, which included England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell.
But Chalobah has been reassured that he will play at Chelsea upon his return after having a conversation with sporting director Paul Winstanley before the option was exercised.
Chelsea believe he will re-acclimatise to west London more quickly than any new signing would given his connection to the club.
However, Chalobah’s long-term future beyond the summer remains in doubt as Chelsea have made him available for about £25m in the past three transfer windows and are likely to allow him to leave permanently in the summer.
Josh Acheampong, 18, continues to be considered a first-team player after his recent breakthrough into the senior squad.
