We continue reflecting on each of our players’ campaigns by looking at how the Blues' defenders fared in 2025/26.
For these reviews, our qualifying criteria is that players were in our squad at the end of the season and appeared at least once competitively.
Here are the 11 players for whom a position in defence was their most frequent position, starting with the skipper…
Reece James
Total appearances: 39 (29 starts)
Minutes played: 2,951
Goals: 2
Our captain enjoyed an excellent campaign, putting previous injury issues behind him by racking up 39 appearances in all competitions.
James scored on his 200th Chelsea appearance, away to Nottingham Forest, and a brilliant free-kick at Newcastle in December was unsurprisingly voted our Goal of the Month.
Reece's stunner from the sidelines🤩
Reece James curls home a brilliant free-kick to pull one back against Newcastle...
James was deployed at both right-back and central midfield, depending on the opponent and the occasion, and flourished in both roles. Huge performances at home to Liverpool and Arsenal stand out.
In March, the 26-year-old signed a new contract at Chelsea, keeping him at his boyhood club until 2032.
Marc Cucurella
Total appearances: 50 (43 starts)
Minutes played: 4,302
Goals: 1
Cucurella was once again a regular in the Chelsea team in 2025/26, mostly at left-back but on occasion used as a wing-back or winger.
The Spaniard’s only goal was crucial in our January comeback win over West Ham, while his run and clever cross set up Estevao Willian for one of the moments of the season, as we dramatically defeated champions Liverpool.
Cucurella looks on as Estevao converts his centre
Cucurella was a constant menace from corners with his near-post flick-ons, and in March brought up his 150th Blues appearance in our FA Cup success at Wrexham.
Trevoh Chalobah
Total appearances: 47 (41 starts)
Minutes played: 4,149
Goals: 3
Chalobah spent significantly more time on the pitch than any other Chelsea central defender in 2025/26.
His consistent performances contributed to a run of four clean sheets in November, including away to Tottenham and at home to Barcelona. He scored a clever header at home to Arsenal in our next match, one of four occasions he found the net over the course of the campaign.
CFC Unlocked | Trevoh Chalobah 🔓
On this episode, we’re joined by Trevoh Chalobah who opens up about his upbringing, joining his boyhood club, his faith and scoring at Stamford Bridge...
Malo Gusto
Total appearances: 49 (38 starts)
Minutes played: 3,632
Goals: 3
Gusto was a regular on the right side of our defence in 2025/26, while he was used at left-back and in midfield, too, such as for the 2-1 home win over Liverpool.
The highlight of Gusto’s season was the first goal of his professional career, scored against Wolves on his 98th Chelsea appearance.
He scored twice more, in a home win over Everton and then in his homeland, although our Champions League knockout tie against PSG would end in defeat.
Malo scores his first Chelsea goal
Wesley Fofana
Total appearances: 38 (31 starts)
Minutes played: 3,009
Goals: 0
Having undergone hamstring surgery in April 2025, Fofana returned to the pitch in our second game of the season in August and enjoyed a largely injury-free campaign.
He most often partnered Trevoh Chalobah in the heart of our defence and was prominent as we registered a series of clean sheets as autumn turned to winter.
Later in the campaign, he made his 50th Chelsea appearance and also started the FA Cup final.
Jorrel Hato
Total appearances: 36 (25 starts)
Minutes played: 2,480
Goals: 2
Jorrel Hato’s first season as a Chelsea player got better and better as it went on. He overcame some initial difficulties to flourish in the second half of the campaign.
He was used at left-back and left centre-back in a two and a three, and showed his comfort moving into midfield when required.
