Chelsea’s success in 2024/25 was in no small part due to the efforts of our midfielders, who were crucial to Enzo Maresca’s style of play. Here we summarise their respective seasons.
The head coach generally preferred two central midfielders, although the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were sometimes deployed in more advanced positions in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Here we analyse the six midfielders who finished the season in our Club World Cup squad and played at least one competitive game for the Blues, starting with our vice-captain Fernandez…
Enzo Fernandez
Total appearances: 53 (45 starts)
Minutes played: 4,383
Goals: 9
Assists: 17
Enzo Fernandez proved an invaluable member of the Chelsea team in 2024/25. He was encouraged to get into attacking areas by Maresca and rewarded his head coach by scoring nine goals and finishing the season with a Chelsea-high 17 assists in all competitions. Only three Premier League players – Bruno Fernandes, Mohamed Salah and our own Cole Palmer - created more chances in the competition than the Argentinian.
Fernandez had the happy knack of scoring important goals. There was the winner at home to Tottenham, as well as a goal in the thrilling victory away to the same side. The early opener against Liverpool set the tone for an important success and it was Enzo who drew us level in the UEFA Conference League final with a timely run and header.
The 24-year-old brought up a century of Chelsea appearances at home to Ipswich and skippered the side on 33 occasions in Reece James’ absence. Fernandez has well and truly established himself in English football.
Moises Caicedo
Total appearances: 50 (48 starts)
Minutes played: 4,720
Goals: 2
Assists: 6
Moises Caicedo was magnificent from beginning to end in 2024/25. The Chelsea Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year hit new heights, whether deployed in his usual central midfield role or asked to invert from right-back. He ranked second across all Premier League players for duels won in all competitions and third for successful tackles.
Caicedo was in the starting XI for every league game, playing all but 64 minutes. His only league goal was a brilliant volleyed equaliser away to Manchester United, while he contributed assists at Tottenham and in both games against Liverpool. He was the man for every occasion with his defensive fortitude, reading of the game and lung-busting runs forward.
Caicedo crowned his season with a wonderful strike in the Conference League final as we beat Real Betis 4-1. The Ecuadorian maintained his high standards Stateside as we lifted the Club World Cup, with his run and shot that Christopher Nkunku followed up deep into extra time pivotal to our round of 16 success over Benfica.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Total appearances: 36 (19 starts)
Minutes played: 2,007
Goals: 5
Assists: 4
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall proved a very useful squad player for Maresca during what was a particularly busy campaign.
The 26-year-old’s energy, tactical awareness and crisp passing improved as he spent more time with his new team-mates following his transfer from Leicester City.
Most of the midfielder’s playing time came in the cup competitions. He featured in all 15 Conference League fixtures, scoring four goals and providing an assist off the bench in the final. Dewsbury-Hall was also involved in each of our Club World Cup knockout fixtures, netting against Benfica.
Romeo Lavia
Total appearances: 22 (15 starts)
Minutes played: 1,178
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Although injury stopped Romeo Lavia appearing as regularly as he would have liked, the Belgian still had a significant impact when he did play, impressing with his ability to break the press and start Chelsea attacks.
Lavia enjoyed positive runs in the team as autumn turned to winter and we surged up the table. It was perhaps not a coincidence that a dip in the team’s form coincided with Lavia’s absence due to a hamstring injury. He was back in the team as the league season drew to an end and elite European football was secured for 2025/26, when Lavia will hope to be more involved.
Andrey Santos
Total appearances: 4 (1 start)
Minutes played: 170
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Fresh from a fantastic loan with Strasbourg in Ligue 1, Andrey Santos joined the Chelsea squad for the Club World Cup. He made four appearances in the USA, including an impressive display from the start against Palmeiras when Caicedo was suspended, and a lively half-hour cameo in the final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Dario Essugo
Total appearances: 3
Minutes played: 50
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
20-year-old Dario Essugo signed on the eve of the Club World Cup and was named in Maresca’s squad for the tournament. The Portuguese midfielder made his debut off the bench in the opening victory against LAFC and was brought on twice more as he started his life as a Blue with silverware.