Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Evan Lloyd

Sun 12 April 2026 14:07, UK

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James Hill could be set to attract interest from the likes of Chelsea this summer as he continues to thrive for Bournemouth.

The defender was incredibly impressive as the Cherries delivered a shock 2-1 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday, dominating throughout.

Less than three years ago, Hill joined Blackburn Rovers on loan from Bournemouth, making 18 Championship appearances before he returned.

The 24-year-old only made 10 Premier League appearances last season, but he has burst onto the scene and has been superb for Bournemouth over the last four months.

Chelsea transfer chiefs ought to be paying attention to Hill’s exploits, with a centre-back among the top priorities this summer.

Chelsea must consider James Hill

Football Insider exclusively revealed on Friday that Chelsea are continuing to back Liam Rosenior, with the Englishman set to take his team into next season.

With another big summer expected, it is absolutely crucial that the Blues finally sign the centre-back they have been calling out for.

Levi Colwill is expected to return to action from an ACL injury imminently, but options such as Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile have failed time and time again to impress.

There is a feeling that Chelsea need Premier League-proven quality, and Hill’s performance on Saturday showed that he has that in droves.

The 24-year-old marshalled Viktor Gyokeres with ease, making three tackles, eight clearances and winning 100 per cent of his ground duels.

It was a staggeringly good performance from a player who is experiencing a meteoric rise in the Premier League, and who could even be the latest Bournemouth defender to earn a big-money move away.

Had his emergence come sooner, Hill may well have been in serious contention to go to the World Cup with England this summer.

Chelsea will have to pay big for Hill

Last summer, Hill had been set to enter the final year of his contract at the Vitality Stadium, with his future in doubt.

The centre-back started the season at right-back and quickly found his way into Andoni Iraola’s team following a defensive exodus in the transfer window.

Impressive performances saw him rewarded with a new four-year contract, and Bournemouth will now expect to reject big-money offers for the talent this summer.

Hill’s journey is an interesting one, but his quality is absolutely evident. Should Chelsea be interested in adding class to their back-line this summer, the 24-year-old should be among the options they consider.