This isn’t Chalobah’s first experience abroad; he spent part of the 2020-21 season on loan at Lorient in France’s top division.
There, he followed the path of his older brother Nathaniel, who had played for Napoli—once a less common move for English players, though it has since become more routine.
He says it was no coincidence that Tuchel—whom he faced while at Lorient after the German took charge of Paris St‑Germain—later singled him out and handed him his Chelsea debut.
Five years on, Tuchel told him that if a defender withdrew from England’s World Cup squad, Chalobah would be first in line for a call-up.
While on holiday in New York, he received the invitation to join Tuchel’s group at his first World Cup, replacing the injured Tino Livramento.
Chalobah said it felt like destiny had already mapped things out for him.
He noted that the same manager who gave him his Chelsea debut also drafted him into the World Cup at the last moment.
He believes some things are meant to be, expressing gratitude and happiness for the opportunity.
The campaign ended with a semi-final loss to Argentina, before they secured bronze by beating France 6-4 in the third-place match.
He admitted finishing third was painful, feeling just a step short of the final.
He said the setback hit the players for a few days, given how hard they had worked and how strongly they believed they could win.
Still, he added, they were close, will learn from the experience, and can be proud of what they achieved.
Now, another manager is central to Chalobah’s journey.
Fabregas was a Chelsea star during Chalobah’s academy years, when he occasionally trained with the first team.
Chalobah recalls how demanding Fabregas was with younger players and says he knows him well from those early sessions.
Fabregas has led Como’s rapid climb from Serie B to the Champions League in just two seasons and persuaded Chalobah to join despite interest from Inter Milan.
Chalobah said Fabregas was hugely influential, outlining his vision for the club and how Chalobah’s experience, physicality, and leadership would fit into it.
He stressed it wasn’t a snap choice but a carefully considered one, shaped by the club’s trajectory, his conversations with the manager, and his desire to be part of the project.
He added that he’s excited to begin this new chapter in what he calls a beautiful story so far.