Nathaniel Chalobah facts for kids
Chalobah training with Chelsea in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nathaniel Nyakie Chalobah | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Freetown, Sierra Leone | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Sheffield Wednesday | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Fulham | ||
| 2005–2012 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2017 | Chelsea | 10 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | → Watford (loan) | 38 | (5) |
| 2013–2014 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| 2014 | → Middlesbrough (loan) | 19 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | → Burnley (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Reading (loan) | 15 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | → Napoli (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2017–2021 | Watford | 75 | (3) |
| 2021–2023 | Fulham | 24 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | (0) |
| 2024– | Sheffield Wednesday | 16 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2008–2009 | England U16 | 6 | (0) |
| 2009–2011 | England U17 | 34 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | England U19 | 13 | (2) |
| 2014 | England U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2012–2017 | England U21 | 40 | (1) |
| 2018 | England | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:27, 3 May 2025 (UTC) | |||
Nathaniel Nyakie Chalobah (born December 12, 1994) is a professional footballer. He plays as a defensive midfielder for Sheffield Wednesday. Nathaniel was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He plays for the England national team.
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Club Career: Nathaniel Chalobah's Journey
Nathaniel Chalobah started his football journey at a young age. He joined the Fulham academy first. Later, at age 10, he moved to the Chelsea academy.
Chelsea Years: Early Success
While still in school, Chalobah played for Chelsea's reserve team. They won the national championship in the 2010–11 season. In 2011–12, he often captained both the reserve and youth teams. He led the team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2012.
Chalobah signed his first professional contract with Chelsea in January 2012. He was only 17 years old. He was even an unused substitute for the Chelsea first team at age 15. This was during a League Cup match against Newcastle. He also traveled with the team to the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, which Chelsea won. In August 2013, he signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea. He hoped to stay with the club his whole career.
Loan to Watford: First Team Experience
On August 31, 2012, Chalobah joined Watford on loan. Watford was a club in the EFL Championship. He made his first team debut for Watford on September 18, 2012. He came on as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion.
His first start was on September 23 in a 2–2 draw with Bristol City. On November 17, he scored his first goal for Watford. It was in a 2–1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored again on December 15 against Burnley.
Chalobah extended his loan at Watford until the end of the 2012–13 season. In April, he scored a great goal from 35 yards out against Leicester City. Watford won that game 2–1. He helped Watford reach the 2013 Football League Championship play-off final. However, they lost 1–0 to Crystal Palace.
Loan to Nottingham Forest: New Challenges
On September 19, 2013, Chalobah went on loan to Nottingham Forest. The manager, Billy Davies, called him a "tremendous young talent." Chalobah debuted for Forest on September 21 against Doncaster Rovers.
He scored his first goal for Forest on October 26. This was in a 3–1 loss to Yeovil Town.
Loan to Middlesbrough: Another Loan Spell
Chalobah joined Middlesbrough on loan on January 16, 2014. He made his debut on January 25, coming on as a substitute against Leicester City. His first start was on February 1 against Doncaster Rovers.
On April 5, 2014, Chalobah scored his first goal for Middlesbrough. It was the winning goal in a 1–0 home game against Derby County.
Loan to Burnley: Premier League Experience
On September 1, 2014, Chalobah moved to Premier League club Burnley on loan. He made his debut on September 28 as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion. Burnley lost that match 4–0.
He suffered an injury in an Under-21s match soon after. Chalobah returned to play on October 18 against West Ham United. His last game for Burnley was on November 1 against Arsenal. He returned to Chelsea in January 2015, having made only four substitute appearances for Burnley.
Loan to Reading: Finding His Form
On January 22, 2015, Chalobah joined Reading on loan. He debuted on January 24 in an FA Cup match against Cardiff City. Reading won 2–1. Three days later, he played his first league game for Reading against Millwall.
In his home debut on January 31, Chalobah scored a goal. This helped Reading win 2–0 against Sheffield Wednesday. He played in 20 matches for Reading and started in every one.
Loan to Napoli: Italian Adventure
On September 1, 2015, Chalobah joined Italian club Napoli on a season-long loan. He made his Napoli debut on October 1, 2015, in a UEFA Europa League game. Napoli won 2–0 against Legia Warsaw.
He got his first start for Napoli on November 26 in a 1–0 win against Club Brugge. On December 10, he scored his first Napoli goal in a 5–2 win over Legia Warsaw. Chalobah made his Serie A debut on January 6, 2016, in a 2–1 victory against Torino. He returned to Chelsea after making five league appearances for Napoli.
Chelsea First Team: 2016–17 Season
In the summer of 2016, Chelsea's new manager, Antonio Conte, was impressed with Chalobah. He decided Chalobah should stay with the first team. Chalobah made his first team debut for Chelsea on September 20, 2016. He came on as a substitute in a 4–2 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup.
On October 15, 2016, in his second league game for Chelsea, Chalobah made a great pass. This led to a goal in a 3–0 win over Leicester City.
Return to Watford: A Permanent Move
On July 13, 2017, Chalobah signed a five-year contract with Watford. This was a permanent move. On September 26, 2017, he suffered a knee injury during training. He needed surgery for it.
Fulham: Back to London
On the last day of the 2021 summer transfer window, Chalobah joined Fulham. Fulham had recently been relegated to the EFL Championship. He signed a contract until 2023. He was reunited with his former manager, Marco Silva. He debuted for Fulham on September 15, 2021, in a 4–1 win against Birmingham City.
West Bromwich Albion: New Club, New Goals
On January 31, 2023, Chalobah moved to West Bromwich Albion. He signed an eighteen-month contract. On January 7, 2024, he scored his first goal for the club. It was in a 4–1 home win against Aldershot Town in an FA Cup game. The club announced on May 22, 2024, that he would leave when his contract ended in the summer.
Sheffield Wednesday: Current Club
On July 13, 2024, Chalobah joined Sheffield Wednesday. This was a free transfer. He made his debut in the EFL Cup on August 27. Sheffield Wednesday won 5–1 against Grimsby Town. His first league game was on December 1, 2024, against Derby County.
International Career: Playing for England
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Nathaniel Chalobah started playing for England's youth teams very early. He made his England under-16 debut at age 13 in October 2008. His England under-17 debut was at age 14 in July 2009. He won the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and later captained the team at age 15.
He debuted for the England under-19 team in September 2011. He also became their captain. He was called up to the England under-21 squad in November 2012. He debuted for them on November 13, replacing Jordan Henderson.
Chalobah was also able to play for Sierra Leone, where he was born. However, he felt a strong connection to England, where he grew up.
In August 2017, Chalobah was called up to the England squad for the first time. This was for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He made his debut on October 15, 2018. He came on as a substitute in England's 3–2 win against Spain. This game officially tied him to playing for England permanently. Even though he played for about 7 minutes, his official career time is recorded as zero minutes because he came on in added time.
Style of Play: What Makes Him Good
Chalobah is known for being very versatile. This means he can play in different positions. He is also known for his strong work-rate and fitness. He is described as tall, athletic, and quick at tackling the ball. He can play well in both midfield and defense.
Personal Life: Beyond the Pitch
Nathaniel Chalobah was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He moved to England when he was seven years old. He grew up in Gipsy Hill in London. He started playing football at age nine. His younger brother, Trevoh, also joined Chelsea's academy. Trevoh has also played for England's youth teams.
Honours: Trophies and Awards
Chelsea
- Premier League: 2016–17
Fulham
- EFL Championship: 2021–22
England U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2010
England U21
- Toulon Tournament: 2016
Individual Awards
- England Men's Youth Player of the Year: 2012
- Football League Young Player of the Month: May 2013
See also
In Spanish: Nathaniel Chalobah para niños
- List of England international footballers born outside England
