After initially struggling to adapt to Italian conditions following his 2024 move from Brighton, Gilmour blossomed under Conte’s guidance. The manager coached him into using his smaller frame to his advantage—reading the game with precision, tackling with tenacity and winning the ball back with grit and timing.
Combine that with the playmaking qualities that once earned him comparisons to Luka Modrić and you’ve got a pretty complete midfielder: someone who not only shielded the back four, but also built attacks from deep and dictated the tempo.
Letting Mateo Kovačić leave for Manchester City in 2024 has looked like a rare misstep from Chelsea. Despite boasting a squad stacked with raw talent, there’s one glaring hole in the team: a midfielder who can truly transition play from defence to attack with control, urgency and grace—something Kovačić excelled at.