Leicester City's Future Is So Exciting, Says Chilwell
Since joining the Club at the age of 12 in 2009, Chilwell has embarked on dazzling journey from talented youth prospect to established Premier League and international star.
The enterprising left back has started every Premier League fixture this season, leading to a maiden senior England call-up – and a fairy-tale Three Lions debut at King Power Stadium last month.
Since then, the 21-year-old has continued to excel for both club and country, delivering a typically assured performance in England’s famous victory over Spain in Seville on Monday.
Reflecting on his decision to commit his future to a club he has called home for almost a decade, Chilwell said: “This is a massive part of my life, I’ve been at this club since I was 12-years-old.
“To sign a new contract here is very pleasing for myself and I’m very excited about the future... it's an amazing feeling.
“To be 21-years-old and playing in the Premier League every week, it can’t be stressed enough how difficult it is.
“Your family and your friends come and watch every match. Results are everything but also the style of football that we’re trying to play this season with a very young squad is exciting.
“That’s a massive reason why I wanted to commit my future here.”
Ben has progressed through the Club’s youth ranks, starring in both the Club's Under-18s and Development Squad sides, before making his senior debut in the League Cup in 2015.
Since then, City have lifted the Premier League title for the first time, while also going further than any other English team in the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League.
He added: “Of course, playing for the Under-18s as a 16-year-old was quite a daunting thing, playing with the older boys who are vocal, so it’s all about trying to prove you’re good enough.
“Working hard both on and on the pitch as well as having the confidence to talk to people, not just shying away, is a massive thing and I feel like that’s helped me a lot.
“That’s a massive part of growing up and trying to play for a club like Leicester, which is obviously a massive football club. I feel like you’ve got to put those hours in and work hard.”
While Ben remembers the 2015/16 season fondly, he also sees similarities between the team ethic which spurred the Foxes to unprecedented success and the togetherness in Claude Puel’s squad.
“It was a crazy season,” Chilwell continued. “Obviously for myself as a young player, being involved in a dressing room in a season like that is something I’ll never forget.
“That winning mentality, the confidence in the squad, the team dynamic, the togetherness of the boys… it really was a strong dressing room that fought for each other on the pitch.
“To be fair, I feel like this season is very similar. The players that have come in are bringing a lot to the team and I feel like this has the same similar feel to how it was a couple of years ago.”
With five years ahead of him at King Power Stadium in a squad defined by its youthful endeavour, Chilwell says there is so much to be excited about for the Blue Army.
“I’m very excited about the future,” he concluded. “The changing room’s a very young changing room but I feel like we’ve got a good balance between experience and youth.
“It’s just a good balance at the moment. Like I said, I feel, the changing room is quite similar to how it was when I was in the title-winning season.
“[It’s a] very close dressing room with a lot of personalities that get on together.
“The direction the Club wants to go, with a lot young players who are hungry to win things, that’s a massive reason why I’ve signed here.”