Levi Colwill sets big Chelsea target as Xabi Alonso splashes the cash on new defenders

Levi Colwill has been speaking about the new season, Chelsea’s expectations, targets and working under the “amazing” Xabi Alonso over the last few weeks

Levi Colwill has his eyes set on becoming one of the Premier League’s best central defenders after being helpless in Chelsea’s collapse last season.

The 23-year-old missed the vast majority of the 2025/26 campaign after suffering a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the opening training session of last summer’s pre-season. The Chelsea academy graduate made his long-awaited return to competitive action in early-May and added another three appearances before the campaign concluded.

While Colwill was out, the Blues lost seven out of eight matches and that led to Liam Rosenior – someone the defender never played under – being dismissed from his head coach role in April. Colwill reflected on how difficult his nine-month layoff was and how it hurt seeing Chelsea go through a terrible run of form.

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“It was the first day back of pre-season last year,” recalled Colwill. “It was really tough to get my head around, but I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, so I just tried to take it in my stride.

“Seeing the boys on the pitch every day obviously hurt a lot, but I got over it and I’m back now. I feel like I’m a stronger person mentally and physically and I feel like I’m a better person for it.”

Colwill is a positive character and is looking forward. The England defender is working hard under new manager Xabi Alonso in Chelsea’s Australian pre-season camp to get in peak condition ahead of the new campaign. Then, the next step is becoming one of the Premier League’s best in the centre of defence.

“I know my targets in my head,” said Colwill. “I want to take my game to the next level this year. I want to be regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the league this year, 100%.

“I think, from the last three games I played last season, the quality I showed proves that I can be, but I’ve just got to be consistent and show it throughout the season. Hopefully I can help my team and lead them on to good things this year.”