Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup team: Where are they now?
Date published: Thursday 27th April 2017 6:46
We all know that Premier League academies provide a wonderful pathway to the first team, so how are Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup winners from two years ago getting on? Oh…
Brad Collins: Goalkeeper for the team that won the FA Youth Cup and the UEFA Youth League in 2014/15 and 2015/16, but no realistic hope of making the first-team squad. Signed a new contract last summer until the end of next season.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Ola Aina: Given the decline of Branislav Ivanovic and knowing Antonio Conte’s love of playing three at the back, I picked Aina as my potential breakout star of the season. Then Conte found Victor Moses down the back of the sofa, and Aina struggled for minutes. Still, he hasn’t been loaned out.
Chelsea appearances: 5
Fikayo Tomori: Joined Chelsea at the age of eight, and finally made his first-team debut when coming on as a substitute for Ivanovic on the final day of last season. Signed a new four-year deal ahead of this season, but was loaned to Brighton in January and started only one league game.
Chelsea appearances: 1
Jake Clarke-Salter: Captained the side to the Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League triumphs, and made his professional debut as a substitute against Aston Villa in April 2016. After that game, John Terry said Clarke-Salter could replace him as Chelsea captain one day. Joined Bristol Rovers on loan in August, but has only started eight games at League One level.
Chelsea appearances: 1
Jay Dasilva: Has represented England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level, gaining 36 caps in the process, but is yet to get a minute for Chelsea in any competition. Was loaned to Charlton in January, but didn’t start a league game until April. Has since kept his place in the team.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Jeremie Boga: One of the success stories, if not at Chelsea. Boga was loaned to Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 for the whole of 2015/16, where he only started six league games but did make 31 appearances in all competitions. Since loaned to Granada for the whole of this campaign, and has started 13 times in La Liga. Still, he’s 20; he should be a regular.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Charlie Colkett: Another 20-year-old, Colkett was loaned to Bristol Rovers last August, where he started eight times in League One before being recalled in January. He then joined Swindon until the end of the season, where he has become a regular but suffered relegation to League Two. Turns 21 in September, yet has still never played for Chelsea.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Charlie Musonda: You’re probably starting to see a pattern here. Musonda originally joined Real Betis on loan in January 2016 for six months, but that was extended for the 2016/17 season. However, having fallen out of favour under Gus Poyet, he returned to Chelsea. There he remains, despite obvious interest from other clubs in taking him on loan.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Tammy Abraham: Abraham might be the closest to actually breaking into the Chelsea first team; would he really have offered less than £30m signing Michy Batshuayi? Instead, while Batshuayi sat on the bench Abraham was loaned to Bristol City in the Championship. He has scored 26 goals in all competitions and was twice voted Player of the Month in the division.
Chelsea appearances: 2
Dominic Solanke: Voted Chelsea’s Academy Player of the Year in 2014/15, there were high hopes that Solanke could make the step up to the first team. Was loaned out to Vitesse Arnhem (shock horror) last season, but has since remained at Stamford Bridge. In February, Antonio Conte admitted that Solanke was likely to leave the club this summer, when his contract expires.
Chelsea appearances: 1
Izzy Brown: Joined Chelsea from West Brom, for whom he had already played in the Premier League at the age of 16. Almost four years later at the age of 20, Brown has managed 11 minutes of first-team action for Chelsea. Performed brilliantly for Rotherham and Huddersfield this season, but basically lost three years of his career. It makes me sad.
Chelsea appearances: 1
Ruben Sammut: Signed a new contract at Chelsea last August, but at 19 has next to no hope of ever impressing upon the first team despite being brilliant in a wonderful academy side. Also hasn’t been loaned anywhere, so just stagnates at the age when doing so can be so detrimental to a player’s career. Can you tell I’m angry yet?
Chelsea appearances: 0
Kasey Palmer: Impressed on loan at Huddersfield this season, but suffered an injury in February that subsequently ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. Joined Chelsea at the age of 16 from Charlton and has picked up four Under-21 caps for England, but… has never played for Chelsea.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Mukhtar Ali: Ali turns 20 in October, and was loaned to Chelsea’s second home Vitesse in January. Made his debut after coming on as a substitute against Ajax, but has managed only 67 minutes of action in the Eredivisie and been used more regularly by their youth team. Has yet to start a senior career match.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Kyle Scott: No loan. No first-team football. No hopes of first-team football. What a f**king mess.
Chelsea appearances: 0
Daniel Storey
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