With Chelsea’s youngsters returning to Cobham for pre-season training this week, a slew of talented up-and-comers took the time to sit down and put pen to paper on their first professional contracts.
A highly-rated crop who reached the FA Youth Cup and NextGen Series Finals in their debut campaign as scholars, they have taken the next step by both being rewarded for their excellent progress as well as committing their immediate futures to progressing through the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
Defenders Andreas Christensen, Jordan Houghton, Dion Conroy, Kevin Wright and Fankaty Dabo are joined by goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney, midfielder Isak Ssewankambo and forwards Chike Kandi and Reece Mitchell in signing terms. Additionally, Islam Feruz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek signed theirs during the course of the 2012-13 season, and Alex Kiwomya will certainly have agreed to his when arriving from Rotherham United as a 14 year-old and has either signed his already or will be doing so in the very near future.
The news follows on from seven boys signing scholarship terms with the Blues. Charly Musonda, Jeremie Boga, Brad Collins, George Brady, Charlie Colkett, Kasey Palmer and Ola Aina all signed on for two years and will be aiming to be following in the footsteps of many of those who signed pro today in the next twelve months.
Full profiles and more information on the new scholars will follow as usual here on TheChels.net in due course over the next week. For now, congratulations to all.