Youth & Reserves

‘We don’t need Hakimi, we have Livramento!” If you know, you know. And, even if you don’t, you probably still know. Where there are potential new first-team signings, there are talented prospects with pathways to consider, and this summer has been no different as Chelsea’s pursuit of Inter wing-back Achraf Hakimi has cast doubt on the immediate route into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for Valentino Livramento, the current Chelsea Academy Player…

“Go see the French lad, he’s the star.” If Michael Ballack was having a little fun with reporters back in 2007, it certainly didn’t feel like it. Brendan Rodgers’ Reserves had just lost to Birmingham City at Brentford’s Griffin Park despite fielding six future senior internationals alongside the former Germany captain, who was on the comeback trail after injury, but Gael Kakuta was already well on his way to becoming…

“The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day.” “It must come sometimes to ‘jam to-day’,” Alice objected. “No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s jam every other day: to-day isn’t any other day, you know.” “I don’t understand you,” said Alice. “It’s dreadfully confusing!” Silly season is upon us and, by that, I mean the time of year when people grow sillier in the face…

The most tumultuous, unpredictable and challenging season of (many of) our lifetimes has drawn to a close at academy level, and it almost goes without saying that navigating life in general during a global pandemic has been far from easy but running a youth development programme during that time has come with specific challenges that have tested the resolve of staff, players, families and friends more than ever before. When…

This Saturday (6th March), Chelsea’s Under-18s welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Cobham for an Under-18 Premier League match you can watch live and exclusive across Chelsea platforms. It’s been some three years since Chelsea last broadcast a league match for this age group and, while they have continued to lead the way in live FA Youth Cup football, it’s a welcome return to a format they showed for much of the…

It didn’t last as long as anyone wanted, but the Frank Lampard era at Chelsea came to an abrupt end on Monday, throwing the immediate future of the club at all levels into a brand-new era of uncertainty. As Thomas Tuchel prepares to enter the fray, we’re forced to take a step back and ask what it means for everyone, but particularly the academy, which has faced often insurmountable challenges…