Chelsea star dealt Sheffield United loan setback after Crystal Palace transfer

Chelsea loanee Alfie Gilchrist is facing an increased competition for playing time at Sheffield United after the Championship club signed Rob Holding from Crystal Palace on Deadline Day.

The Blues youngster was on the bench against Derby County earlier this month, the first time he hadn't seen minutes in a Championship fixture since November, and then was nowhere to be seen in the matchday squad against Portsmouth last weekend. Gilchrist watched from the stands at Bramall Lane as Holding found himself in the squad.

EFL rules only allow Sheffield United to name five loan signings in a squad at any one time but have six loan players working with Chris Wilder this season. Ben Brereton Diaz, Hamza Choudhury, Harry Clarke and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi made up the rest of the five in the squad against Pompey.

Full-back Femi Seriki is also set to return for Sheffield United soon, which will increase the competition for spaces across the back four. Holding signed for Sheffield United on loan in the final moments of the January window to help out in defence. All of a sudden, Gilchrist could find his development in the Championship halted.

Chris Wilder explains Chelsea loanee’s absence

Wilder told The Star: “Alfie's attitude has been absolutely superb. He needed to come out of the team.

“It was a tough gig for him for maybe two or three games. He’s a young player coming into Championship football and has played the majority of games. We knew we were slightly disadvantaged in terms of the loan ruling and the available slots. We had to make a decision.

“He took that as I would have expected him to take it, in terms of the personality and the character of him and how he has been brought up. He was disappointed but there will be disappointed players right the way through. It is not about individuals. We talked about it and he has adapted to that situation.

"We're getting back to a fully fit squad. Kieffer's not far away, Tom will be involved on Wednesday night, Kieffer will be involved on Saturday, Femi is only a week or two away and Shacks [Jamie Shackleton] is back in full training.

“We only have Ollie Arblaster missing long-term so we have got 21 or 22 players to fit into 20. There are going to be some disappointed players that aren't getting on the bench, never mind not getting on the pitch. But I'd rather have it that way and I've been consistent with that right the way through."

Gilchrist has already racked up 30 appearances in all competitions so far this season and has been a regular starter for Sheffield United as they push for promotion back to the top flight. Wilder's side sit second in the Championship, two points off league leaders Leeds United.

Sheffield United ‘delighted’ with Gilchrist loan

The 21-year-old has made 17 first team appearances for Chelsea, scoring his only goal for the club in the Premier League meeting with Everton in April 2024. Enzo Maresca deemed the player surplus to immediate requirements last summer and Sheffield United made him a prime target.

On confirming the loan in August, Wilder said: "The loan market tends to be one which intensifies later in the window, so we accepted we would have to wait a little longer if we wanted our top targets. Alfie was always one of those players who featured high on our wanted list.

"Everyone in the game is aware of Alfie and his abilities, so our pitch to him, and Chelsea, had to be spot on. There's been a lot of work behind the scenes to get this deal through, and we're looking forward to working with a really talented player.

"Alfie's had a taste of playing at the highest level, and having spoken to him, he's keen to get more games under his belt. He's ready to take the next opportunity in his career and we're delighted to have added him to our squad."

In other news, a Crystal Palace winger has attracted interest from Bayern Munich.