When it comes to British football, Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with. Since the turn of the millennium they have been one of the most successful clubs in the country, and in the world for that matter.
They have twice won the UEFA Champions League while lifting the Premier League a further five times as well as a slew of both domestic, continental, and global cups. But one thing that the Blues have been slandered for in that time is their lack of homegrown academy products.
Despite their impressive youth academy program producing world-class players consistently and proving that its ‘loan army’ system isn’t just for show, few have managed to make the step up to the first team setup at Stamford Bridge.
One man looking to stake his own claim for a starting berth this season is Conor Gallagher. The talented young central midfielder has started all but one game for the West London outfit this season, even captaining the side on seven occasions.
While his form has been impressive, the Blues are still looking to piece together their season after a disappointing start to the campaign. They are currently down in tenth place in the league table and as such, Bovada Sportsbook prices them as +25000 outsiders for a sixth Premier League trophy this season.
We can’t see that happening unfortunately for the Stamford Bridge faithful, however, hopefully in the coming years, they will see more players such as these come through the doors at Cobham.
John Terry
“Captain, leader, legend,” as the banner at Stamford Bridge reads. and it really doesn’t need to say anymore. John Terry is, without a doubt, one of the greatest players to have ever come out of both Chelsea’s academy and England as a whole.
His 19-year career with the club is marked by a plethora of honours and achievements including five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, and last but not least, the UEFA Champions League – even though he missed out on the final in Munich due to a rash red card against Barcelona in the semifinals.
Mason Mount
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One of the latest academy products to have made the cut is Mason Mount who made a name for himself as an integral part of both at Stamford Bridge and in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions setup. After being given a break by former manager and the club’s record goalscorer Frank Lampard, the midfielder showed consistency and versatility on the pitch with a penchant for scoring goals and assisting his teammates.
He was a key cog in the wheel that upset Manchester City in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final before going on to help England reach the Euro 2020 final later that summer.
Unfortunately for Money Mase, his form fell off a cliff somewhat last season and he has since left the club in a money-spinning move to Manchester United. As of yet, he has been unable to replicate the kind of form that made him one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe and it remains to be seen whether he will ever return to his very best. If he does, the Red Devils will have some player on their hands at Old Trafford.
Reece James
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Like Mount, Reece James is another young prodigy who came through the ranks under the aforementioned Lampard. He too was crucial to the club’s continental exploits three years ago however, unlike Mount, James has gone on to establish himself as a cornerstone at the Bridge, even being named captain by Mauricio Pochettino earlier this season.
The right-back has quickly become a fan favourite, making a name for himself with his incredible technical ability, which has seen him pop up with a number of crucial goals and assists from the right-hand flank.
Both this season and last, he has struggled with injuries, seeing him drop down the pecking order with the national team. When he is fit and firing however, he is the first name on the Chelsea team sheet, and he is arguably England’s best right back, despite facing stiff competition from both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker. It remains to be seen which one of the three will start for England at Euro 2024 next summer.
Fikayo Tomori
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Fikayo Tomori joined the Chelsea academy at the age of eight and honed his craft as one of the finest centre-backs in Europe. The pacey defender rose through the ranks in the youth setup and progressed to become a first-team starter, but the Blues’ spending spree under new owner Todd Boehly suddenly saw the Englishman pushed down the pecking order.
During his first three transfer windows at the helm, the American business mogul forked out an eye-watering €300m on central defenders alone, bringing in the likes of Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly. That saw Tomori shipped out to AC Milan, firstly on loan before making the move permanent, and he has gone on to become one of the finest defenders in Serie A today, even helping the Rossoneri reach a UEFA Champions League semifinal last season.
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