Chelsea have shown Tosin Adarabioyo as head coach Enzo Maresca’s first signing, but what can fans expect from the former Fulham centre-back?
Adarabioyo moved from west London to Stamford Bridge after his contract with Fulham expired.
The 26-year-old was highly sought after at a number of clubs, with Chelsea beating Manchester United and Newcastle to secure the defender’s signature.
But his starting XI position is one of confidence, as Maresca looks to instill a new taste in play and get acquainted with an inflated squad that includes plenty of centre-backs.
At just five years old, Adarabioyo recruited through Manchester City’s academy, where he progressed across age groups.
The centre-back stood out a lot for City and even earned praise from coach Pep Guardiola, but struggled to get into the first team despite a few appearances in cup competitions.
Championship loans with West Brom and Blackburn Rovers gave him his first senior football stake before he was signed by Fulham to the tune of £2m after their promotion to the Premier League.
Since then, Adarabioyo has been an ever-present member of the Fulham squad, surpassing Marco Silva as the west London club established themselves as a solid, high-flying team.
However, the failure of an agreement on the terms of a new contract left the door open for an exit from Craven Cottage in the summer, with Chelsea stepping in to secure his services.
At 6-foot-5, Adarabioyo offers a welcome combination of defensive physical attributes and ball-playing skills. His length makes him a dominant figure in the air, but he must also use his speed to make interceptions and tackles in recovery.
With the ball, Adarabioyo has a clever passing mix, thanks to his time at City’s academy, and former Fulham manager Marco Silva pronounced its importance to his former team’s playing taste.
“He’s a key player for us. He is one of the leaders of our dressing room and we want him to intervene at the right time,” Silva said of Adarabioyo in December last year.
“Tosin is a special player for us, I can’t hide this situation. The way he can protect the box but also with the ball, he’s a special player for me, the way I need to play, the way he can build. from behind].
Maresca’s possession-oriented style of play keeps Chelsea strong defensively, and his Leicester side conceded the fewest goals in the league last season.
With the ball, Adarabioyo will have to play a key role in the lateral attacks, associating with the goalkeeper but also with the inverted full-backs who will enter the field to accompany the recycling of possession.
The inverted nature of Maresca’s full-backs would arguably give Chelsea’s centre-backs more in the defensive transition, but their top line will mean they will want to be activated and wary of the opponent’s risk on the counter-attack.
In that sense, Adarabioyo’s speed and betting ability could be Chelsea’s decision to bring him to Stamford Bridge, but all of that would arguably not be easy for the 26-year-old.
“He’s fast, strong in the air and has the quality to look at the line for the next pass,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said of Tosin Adarabioyo in 2016.
Expectations will be high for the centre-back (and Chelsea in general) to step up under new boss Maresca and Adarabioyo will no doubt be aware of the countless other centre-backs who have failed to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge.
What’s more, despite his arrival in the summer, he may be forced to break through a deadlock with other centre-backs to become a normal starter. Thiago Silva has already left and Trevor Chalobah could soon stay with the Brazilian. However, Les Bleus still have plenty of alternatives.
Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi remain at the club, while young duo Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana look set for the taste of Maresca ownership when they are in their best form. Alongside this quartet, Adarabioyo represents a solid addition, but he could have his squares cut for him for a normal starter at Stamford Bridge.
Put us in your feed