Every July, the clock resets, but the journey continues. Barely six weeks since the last of the confetti was cleaned up and the title celebrations drew to a close, Chelsea’s Under-18s return to work for the 2026-27 season as defending national champions, with the objective not simply to retain their crown, but to press on, to be more dominant, to assert their authority over everyone in new and exciting ways. It won’t be easy – it never is – and as many of those who played their part in last May’s successes are set to move onward and upward to bigger things, so it is for the incoming group of first-year scholars who arrive with an opportunity to make a(n even bigger, in some cases) name for themselves. Let’s meet them.
Kwamina Ampah, Forward
Brother of former Chelsea player Ato, who made one senior appearance before departing to Stoke City last January, Kwamina is taller than his older sibling and perhaps a shade less immediately dynamic with the ball, but no less effective in his own way. He uses his long stride to get into advantageous positions, often cutting inside from the left, and has a real presence about him in the box.
Jack Anderson, Attacking Midfielder
Signed from Blackburn at the end of his Under-14 season, left-footed schemer Jack has had his fair share of injuries since moving down south, but when he’s fit and playing well he’s a creative spark who comes to life in the final third. Comparisons to Cole Palmer are made carefully but, in terms of style and how they operate on the ball, there are certainly similarities.
Manny Ayinde, Defender
Another Under-14 arrival, this time from London rivals Millwall, Manny joined as a left-back and can play there but has made centre-back his home over the last eighteen months, where he plays with a balance of authority and composure. His character and leadership traits are quickly identifiable, playing with an intensity that demands the best of everyone around him.
Isaac Badu, Midfielder
One of a number of familiar faces to regular watchers of Dan Hogan’s Under-18s, Isaac (also known as Isaac (Da) Silva when on international duty with Portugal) made more than twenty appearances ‘playing up’ last season, including a Dev Squad debut in the EFL Trophy when still a 15 year-old. Originally a centre-back, his step into midfield allows him to use his lanky frame and remarkable on-ball composure to break up play and transition it forward.
Isaac Collinson, Goalkeeper
Isaac joined at the start of his Under-15 season from Middlesbrough and is an England age-group regular who earned a few 18s appearances in the first half of last season. He’s a capable stopper with solid fundamentals and, while his minutes playing up were occasionally marred by individual errors, that comes with the territory of being a goalkeeper in a team that aims to play as Chelsea do, and will not dissuade him either. He’ll compete for playing time in a slightly crowded academy goalkeeping department full of potential.
Hezekiah Grimwade, Forward
A precocious young talent who forged a reputation and following at a young age as part of a Chelsea-focused family (four of his siblings are also under contract to the club through the boys or girls academies), Heze has almost always played a year up on the pitch and has often done so in the classroom too, showing a maturity beyond his years that manifests in the way he plays. A creative attacking midfielder comfortable central or out wide, his slight stature belies a steely determination that sees him pop up in goalscoring positions with stirring frequency. He makes things happen.
Jayden Malundama, Midfielder
Jayden’s academy journey has been long and winding and has most recently seen him become a more defensive-minded player having plied his trade as a forward until just over a year ago. Now recast as a deeper midfielder who can also fill in at full-back, his command of the ball remains an asset of his game, and his robust frame allows him to shrug off would-be challengers to break the press and get his team up the pitch.
Jake Murray, Goalkeeper
Jake missed much of last season with a knee injury otherwise he would likely have added his name to the list of stoppers who claimed Under-18 league minutes last season. Confident and assertive, he’s another England age-group representative who most closely resembles Max Merrick of the conveyor belt of Blues goalkeepers who have come through in the last few years.
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Midfielder
Likely the most recognisable name from this intake owing to his two seasons as an Under-18 regular (with Dev Squad appearances thrown in for good measure), Mahdi’s stylish attacking midfield swagger is easy on the eye but hard for opponents to stop. Excellent on the half turn, nimble and deft in tight areas around the box, and with an eye for goal, he ticks all the boxes you want for a youngster in his position and he projects as someone who will spend almost all of the 2026-27 season at Under-21 level, and a first-team debut may not be far off given his exposure to training with the group last season. An England youth international who again has played above his age groups there, he’s also eligible to represent Australia or Chad through his parentage.
Andrew Pennie, Forward
The latest goalscorer off the Cobham taxi ranks isn’t really like any of his predecessors. Shorter and stockier than almost all of the prototypical nines that have come through before him, Pennie doesn’t lack production or tenacity, constantly finding ways to affect play, be it dropping deeper to join up with midfielders before taking advantage of space in behind, or operating in tight pockets in close. He scored his first Under-18s goal as an Under-15 and bagged a couple more last season, and possesses many of the hallmarks most successful strikers of smaller stature have held over the years.
Gabi Sambou, Defender
A defender who has represented both England and Poland at youth level, Gabi made appearances in last season’s Under-18 Premier League, EFL Trophy and UEFA Youth League, which not too many schoolboys will be able to say they’ve accomplished. Capable as a right-back and centre-back – his physique suggests a long-term future in the middle – he’s an elegant mover and very composed in possession, looking to play on the front foot and drive the team forward.
Reggie Watson, Midfielder
An Under-18 regular for some eighteen months now, Reggie plays with a 30 year-old’s head on young shoulders, marshalling the midfield, putting out fires wherever they spark up with a remarkable engine and capacity to cover ground, and has a keen eye for goal while being a free-kick specialist. Son of former Premier League midfielder and FA Cup Final winning goalscorer Ben (and cousin of Jesse Derry), he missed the last third of 25-26 with a persistent shoulder issue that he is now over, and will make big strides very quickly this season. Like Nicoll-Jazuli, don’t rule out a senior debut.
Considering that seven of this group already have Under-18 experience, you can be assured that the Under-16s coming up behind them will be involved as the season goes on. Floodlit Cup Champions from last term, Trey Faromo-Adebayo has already earned minutes at that level, while Aaron Woolford, Josh Henry, Iago Silva, Bilal Shah-Berkouz, Oliver Crofts, Rico Sealey, Jakob Dako, Isaac McGillvary and Eliah Semakula are all England youth-age internationals, as are Antoni Miernik and Kevin Swiderski for Poland. It’s an incredibly promising group, now led by Tom Howard and Darius Charles, and many of them will become increasingly familiar as the campaign rolls on.
Congratulations must also go to the players who have been part of this cohort over the years and who are continuing their careers elsewhere. Arthur Barrratt and Tom McDermott have signed for Everton, Marko Gasiorowski penned a deal with Bournemouth last season and saw Under-21 minutes as at Under-16, while George Jobling moved on to Tottenham Hotspur. Jai Nwosu shifted across to Brentford during his Under-15 season and scored a team-leading eleven goals for their Under-18s last season ahead of his scholar this summer, and although Kayden Roberts’ next step is yet to be confirmed after a long injury absence but he will not want for a club for very long.
Owing to a registration ban, this is a group that hasn’t been added to with external recruitment in the same way many previous intakes have been, but they also haven’t lost anyone to high-profile unwanted departures either, which is very much a priority given the developments of previous years. It’s a talented, versatile and capable group and one that will hope to hit the ground running when everything gets under way for real again in August.