Fulham alumnus Tosin Adarabioyo couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at West Ham following Chelsea’s 3-0 victory on Saturday, which marked his first Premier League start for the club he supported as a boy.
Adarabioyo stepped into the Chelsea starting line-up due to a defensive reshuffle, having come on as a late substitute in their previous 1-0 win over Bournemouth. Paired with Levi Colwill in the heart of defence, the 26-year-old was keen to make an impression on his debut.
If Chelsea had failed to secure their first win at the London Stadium since Timo Werner’s strike handed Thomas Tuchel victory in April 2022, Adarabioyo’s day could have taken a less celebratory turn.
However, his confidence was evident even before kick-off, as he shared a teasing post on social media, featuring training snapshots with the caption, “Bubbles to burst. [bubble emoji].”
Chelsea extended their advantage in the second half, with Cole Palmer scoring to put the game beyond doubt after a nervy conclusion to the first period. By the final whistle, head coach Enzo Maresca was full of praise for his team’s performance, describing the win as crucial.
“Especially with the performance and the three points, that is the most important thing,” Maresca said after the game. “Also, a clean sheet, so it has been a complete performance. We are very happy.”
Maresca had to be inventive with his line-up, shifting Wesley Fofana to right-back due to the absences of Malo Gusto and Reece James.
Fofana’s contribution helped secure Chelsea’s second consecutive clean sheet in an away league match, a feat they hadn’t achieved since October 2024, despite both West Ham and Bournemouth threatening to score. Nicolas Jackson’s early brace put the Blues firmly in control.
Adarabioyo’s pre-match banter could have easily backfired, but fortunately for him, he delivered a solid performance in the win.
After the match, he continued his playful tone, posting on social media, “Pop, pop. [bubbles emoji].” It was a confident display both on and off the pitch, showing that Adarabioyo is settling in at Stamford Bridge with a swagger.
Though he has mainly been restricted to Conference League appearances this season, Adarabioyo’s strong start suggests he could quickly endear himself to Chelsea fans with more displays like these.