Thiago Silva summed up Chelsea team's thoughts on Jorginho's transfer to Arsenal
Thiago Silva explained how former Chelsea teammate Jorginho was ‘one of our great dressing room leaders’ before the Italy international joined Arsenal earlier this year.
The central midfielder was sold by the Blues as part of a wide-ranging squad overhaul at Stamford Bridge since their change of ownership in the summer of 2022. The west London club’s first-team squad is almost unrecognisable to the one under Roman Abramovich.
Experienced defender Silva is one of a handful of players who have remained at Chelsea over that period and has seen many of his teammates depart, including several to key rivals. In the summer, Kai Havertz joined Jorginho from Arsenal while Mason Mount went to Manchester United and Manchester City signed Mateo Kovacic.
The exit of Jorginho was one of the first major exits from the club amid a raft of high-profile arrivals and a splurge of signings from the Blues. Having ranked in the top three of the 2021 Ballon d’Or list, Jorginho won four European trophies during his time at Chelsea – while also featuring in five domestic cup finals.
Earlier this year, Silva lamented in an interview with ESPN Brasil: "It was for a direct rival, but these are football things, it happens. He wanted to stay in England because he has family here. There are things that we have no control over, but we have to understand the player's side of things."
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The central defender added: "I know we have a lot of work ahead of us, especially as we have lost one of our great leaders in the dressing room. Jorginho is a guy who spoke a lot and this hole will remain, but we have to move on. We didn't expect him to leave, but it has happened. We have to make up for his absence in the best possible way."
Jorginho has played only a bit-part role in Arteta’s side since his transfer, initially as an understudy to Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey in the line-up while he is now behind Rice in the pecking order. The midfielder has started just one Premier League campaign to date this campaign.
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Jorginho and Silva were close friends and teammates at Chelsea (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Jorginho may not have made a notable impact in Arsenal's games but on the training pitch, he is the player who has leapt out to Declan Rice. The former Hammers captain has spoken about how much he has learned from the Brazilian-born star since his switch to the Emirates.
Rice, who was speaking to Joe Cole for Channel 4, has said: “The one who surprised me so much, not surprised because I knew he was such a good player anyway. Playing with him every day in training and seeing how he is because he’s not the biggest is Jorginho.
“His brain, the way it works as a holding midfielder, I’ve just been trying to pick up little things off of him. He’s always in position, he always knows when to pass, always creates time for himself, he’s an outstanding trainer.”
Jorginho has made 24 first-team appearances for Arsenal since his switch from their London rivals, but many of those have come as a substitute. He previously spent seven seasons in Italian football across spells at Verona and Napoli, while he starred as the nation won Euro 2020.
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