Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong was once again linked with an exit over the summer amid substantial interest from virtually every elite club in Europe.

The England U21 international is widely regarded as one of the best prospects in his position in world football and he has been tipped to leave Chelsea ever since he broke into the first-team under Mauricio Pochettino.

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain were all keeping close tabs on his situation over the summer and it’s understood that new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso held a meeting with Acheampong’s representatives before the start of the season to reassure his camp that he would feature prominently this term.

After starting just eight Premier League games last campaign, there were significant doubts over whether Acheampong would play a key role under Alonso, but such worries have quickly disappeared during the early weeks of 2026-27.

Acheampong has started six of Chelsea’s nine games across all competitions so far this term, and he has played the entire 90 minutes in both of their league fixtures since the international break - a 5-1 win over Bournemouth and a 2-0 triumph against Everton on Saturday.

Speaking after the win over Everton, Chelsea’s first clean sheet of the season, Alonso told reporters: “We are very happy with the result and the performance. We needed one of these wins away, where we have played very professionally and seriously, looking solid. It was a very good win. We got many things right.

“We looked in control of the game, there were moments for sure when we had to defend, especially in the first half, but overall the team looked mature, knew what to do in each moment, and knew we’d have our own moment. That happened in the second half.

“After that, we were good with the ball, creating chances and not conceding much. To win away is always tough, and we got the clean sheet. We knew it was a matter of time and finally we got it.”

Josh Acheampong is the real deal

Chelsea's upturn in form since the return of club football has largely been thanks to Moises Caicedo’s return to the starting XI in midfield, but Acheampong’s inclusion has played a role too.

The young England defender was excellent against Everton, nullifying the threat of both Jack Grealish and former Chelsea team-mate Tyrique George, and he has truly earned his place in Alonso’s best starting XI over the past two weeks. He is superb at defending one-vs-one out wide, he is tidy in possession and his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet is already elite.

At just 20 years old, Acheampong is far from the finished article either and that is an extremely exciting prospect for Chelsea, and an extremely alarming one for the rest of the Premier League.

The Blues have come close to losing Acheampong on several occasions over the past few years, however they will be buoyant that he remains a Chelsea player, and talks over a new long-term contract are believed to have already been initiated.