Following a £30 million transfer to the Italian club, Chalobah has quickly become a focal point for Como fans. He had already impressed during pre-season friendlies against Liverpool and Arsenal, and he started in Saturday’s match, playing under Cesc Fabregas.
Although the result was a setback for Como, earning a point on the road in Serie A is a credible start. Chalobah drew widespread praise for his performance, reinforcing his reputation as a top defensive presence.
The sale of Chalobah is seen by some as another example of Chelsea’s willingness to move academy products, especially with the acquisition of Maxence Lacroix addressing centre-back depth. Chalobah now has an opportunity to prove his value at his boyhood club by making a significant impact in Italy.
Italian media lauded Chalobah’s debut, highlighting his leadership and influence on the game. Udinese took the lead shortly before half-time, but Como equalized through Anastasios Douvikas. Chalobah was widely regarded as Como’s standout player, contributing significantly to the buildup and defensive organization.
TuttoMercatoWeb praised his “leadership” and described his leap as “remarkable,” noting that Chalobah’s presence helped set up Douvikas’s equalizer. ComoZero echoed the sentiment, suggesting Chalobah is already among the best defenders in Fabregas’s squad and outlining the perception among Chelsea supporters following his performance.
Match statistics reflected Chalobah’s impact. FotMob awarded him a 7.8 rating, placing him fourth among all players on the pitch and marking him as Como’s second-best performer. He recorded 98 touches—the second-most in the game—and completed 75 of 81 passes (a 93% completion rate), with two of those passes entering the final third.
Defensively, Chalobah dominated, tallying 12 defensive contributions (more than any teammate), including two tackles, two interceptions, and six clearances. He won six of ten duels and even executed a successful dribble from the back line.
Overall, Chalobah’s impressive debut for Como signals a strong start to his campaign in Italy. The Chelsea academy product will likely use this opportunity to demonstrate that selling him was a misstep, while aiming to establish himself as a premier defender in the Serie A ranks.
