Updated: 13 May 2026 06:22 BST |<\/span> Cameron Smith Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Wesley Fofana arguably has three games left to save his Chelsea career and the return to fitness of Levi Colwill could help swing things in the Frenchman\u2019s favour massively.<\/p>\n Fofana has been a major disappointment since his arrival from Leicester City for a whopping transfer fee of \u20ac80.4 million in 2022, largely down to injury problems, and his poor form has contributed to Chelsea\u2019s current winless run in the Premier League.<\/p>\n The 25-year-old has been at fault for a number of goals that Chelsea have conceded in 2026 and, in recent months, his performance level has dropped to such a level that rumours indicate that he could be sold during the upcoming summer transfer window.<\/p>\n Fofana\u2019s deal isn\u2019t due to expire until 2029, but with Chelsea keen to sign at least one new central defender this summer, a number of their current options will be required to depart.<\/p>\n The Blues currently have nine senior centre-backs on their books, including loanees Aaron Anselmino and Axel Disasi, and several of them are highly likely to be sold on permanent deals before the start of next season as the club look to improve the quality of their defensive options while reducing the quantity.<\/p>\n Fofana\u2019s future therefore remains uncertain, especially as he could feasibly have a number of suitors given his age and reputation as an excellent player.<\/p>\n However, if he performs like he did against Liverpool for the remainder of the season, Chelsea will arguably have no choice but to keep him.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a totally dominant display from Fofana, but he certainly looked more like his usual self than in recent months and he proved just how valuable he can be for Chelsea. And it\u2019s no coincidence either.<\/p>\n Fofana\u2019s best performance in months unsurprisingly came alongside Levi Colwill, who made his first start of the season against Liverpool on Saturday after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.<\/p>\n The England international is Chelsea\u2019s best centre-back by a country mile and he rekindled his immense partnership with Fofana at Anfield.<\/p>\n The pair have now played 15 times together in a Chelsea shirt, winning eight of those matches, drawing five and losing just two. They started alongside each other at centre-back in 11 of the first 13 Premier League games of 2024-25, with Chelsea losing only one of those fixtures and conceding just 11 goals.<\/p>\n It was the start of a blossoming partnership and Enzo Maresca had certainly found his favoured centre-back duo. However, Fofana went off with a hamstring injury during a 3-0 win over Aston Villa in December and after a brief return in March, he required surgery to fix this issue.<\/p>\n By the time he returned to full fitness, Colwill had suffered an ACL injury and Fofana hasn\u2019t looked the same player since.<\/p>\n <\/center><\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise that Fofana’s form has dipped, however, as he and Colwill complement each other perfectly. The former is given license to be the more aggressive of the two, while the latter is more conservative. Colwill\u2019s immense passing ability hides Fofana\u2019s slight weakness in this area and allows the Frenchman to instead utilise his preference for driving forward with the ball at his feet instead. Meanwhile, Fofana\u2019s aerial prowess and Colwill\u2019s defensive nous and positioning combine to make Chelsea a far more solid unit at the back.<\/p>\n Speaking to the Chelsea website<\/b> in September 2024, Fofana admitted this himself. \u201cOn the pitch it\u2019s simple – I know him, he knows me and every game is a little bit better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t need to talk too much. I feel good with him, he feels good with me. Away from the pitch we have a very good relationship. We are not just teammates, he\u2019s a friend, my guy.\u201d<\/p>\n The Frenchman hasn\u2019t created such a partnership with Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo or Jorrel Hato, and his form has dipped drastically as a result.<\/p>\n But, with Colwill now back, Fofana has the chance to cement his place as a key player for Chelsea once again and end rumours of a sale.<\/p>\n Xabi Alonso to Chelsea: The ideal manager to save the BlueCo project<\/b><\/p>\n The 10 superstars set to dominate the 2026 summer transfer window<\/b><\/p>\n Transfer Rumours: Chelsea favourites to sign striker as Man Utd learn Kroupi ‘concern’<\/b><\/p>\n Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.<\/p>\n The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:<\/p>\n \u2022Google Play<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022App Store<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Levi Colwill to save Wesley Fofana\u2019s Chelsea career<\/h2>\n
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