Chelsea's 'Uncle' Tosin Adarabioyo on leading the kids – and the wild stat that makes him Enzo Maresca's oldest man
Published 22/10/2025 at 09:07 GMT+1
Chelsea face Ajax in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - and Tosin Adarabioyo spoke to TNT Sports ahead of the game. He reflected on becoming the oldest player - at just 28 - to feature for the club under Enzo Maresca. He also claimed the squad still take great confidence from their FIFA Club World Cup triumph.
Tosin talks 'leadership' status at Chelsea and 'Uncle Tos' nickname
Video credit: TNT Sports
Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo said it is "an honour" to be among the senior players at the club after becoming the oldest - at 28 - to ever feature under head coach Enzo Maresca.
Adarabioyo has been with Chelsea since last year, helping the Blues to UEFA Europa League glory and the FIFA Club World Cup title in his first season.
Chelsea are fifth in the early Premier League table after winning 3-0 against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Now the Blues face Ajax in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Adarabioyo was asked about his unlikely status and told TNT Sports: "It's an honour to be one of the senior players in the squad - 28 is not old at all."
He also talked about his nickname at Chelsea - "Uncle" - saying: "I think it was Noni [Madueke] last season, he commented on one of my Instagram posts saying 'Uncle Tose' and from there the fans got onto it and it's stuck from there.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"Every day [people call me by the nickname], even some of the staff call me it. Marcos [fitness coach Alvaraz] calls me it every day."
Adarabioyo also said it has been a "good start" to the season for Chelsea despite some "tough results" and admitted the Club World Cup triumph - particularly the 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the final - still gives the squad a great amount of confidence.
"We showed the world what we are capable of in that Club World Cup final," he said. "I think everybody saw what we are as a team and what we are individually, so the sky's the limit.
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Tosin Adarabioyo in training ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Ajax
Image credit: Getty Images
"It really just gave us a confidence boost, we went into the final and beat the Champions League winners, so we know that we're able to perform at an incredibly high level."
Adarabioyo also reacted to teenager Josh Acheampong scoring his first goal for Chelsea in the win at Forest.
"I think we can see, when he's on the pitch he's just unbelievable," Adarabioyo added.
"He's just top quality and he's still 19. For him to get his first goal for the club was incredible to see."
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