“Room for growth”- Former Chelsea starlet backed to join the pantheon of PL greats

Ike Ugbo believes former Chelsea starlet Fikayo Tomori can be better than John Terry

Speaking to Milan News (h/t Football.London), Cobham graduate Ike Ugbo believes that former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori can get even better than the likes of Premier League legends John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Tony Adams.

Ugbo, 24, who is currently playing as a striker for French side ESTAC Troyes, was a teammate of Tomori when they were at the Chelsea academy. He claims that the AC Milan defender could become one of the best centre-backs of all time in England.

Tomori was a graduate of the Cobham academy before moving out on to play for Hull City and Derby County in successive Championship seasons in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively.

Here’s what Ugbo said about the defender (h/t Football.London):

He can become even better than them. He is young, he has time on his side and a lot of room for growth.

For Fik, playing the Champions League with the Rossoneri is incredible. Last week I had watched the match against Red Bull Salzburg. I’m happy that he plays at the highest level where he can demonstrate all his qualities.

He then played a season-and-a-half at Chelsea, without being a regular starter. Eventually, AC Milan signed him on loan in January 2021, before making that move permanent for £30m (£25m plus £5m in add-ons) in the summer of that year.

Since then, the 24-year-old has been one of the best centre-backs in Italian football. He played a key role in Milan winning the Scudetto after an 11-year wait.

Tomori possesses everything an elite modern-day centre-back needs to have. He reads the game well, can be physically strong, is good in both boxes and can play out with the ball. At 24, which is still a young age for a centre-back, the Englishman has all the ingredients to match the claims of his former teammate Ugbo.

Have Chelsea made a mistake letting him go? It is a hypothetical question now because we never know where a player can feel comfortable and perform at his best. It happened in Milan for Tomori, it may or may not have happened for him at Stamford Bridge.

More Chelsea News:

• Jurgen Klopp has slammed Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly for his plans for a Premier League All-Star game
• Steve Clarke gives his verdict on Billy Gilmour leaving Chelsea for Brighton & Hove Albion
• Chelsea were interested in Antony long before Manchester United

Hence, instead of drooling over this, the Blues should be proud that another of their products is doing well at an elite stage. Whether he will return one day to don the famous jersey is a question for another time.