Youth & Reserves

Never let it be said that there’s no football in the summer months. Whilst the western club football calendar takes its traditional break, there has nonetheless been regular action from all corners of the world, perhaps most notably in Mexico, where a quartet of Chelsea players have been representing their countries at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Chief amongst those is Nathaniel Chalobah, the sixteen year-old defender who has successfully…

For the fifth time in slightly under five years, Chelsea have a new manager. Andre Villas-Boas returns to Stamford Bridge having departed with Jose Mourinho in September of 2007, and he returns as one of the hottest commodities in the game, a 33 year-old academic who smashed records with FC Porto last season. For Chelsea’s academy, however, things are about to change again as they will embark upon yet another…

When Jeffrey Bruma returns from his holidays later next week, he will complete the formalities in a deal to join German outfit Hamburg on a two-year loan. The reaction to the news has been mixed amongst Chelsea supporters, with some suggesting that the young Dutch defender will never be capable of holding down a regular place in the Blues’ lineup, whilst others have vented their anger at Frank Arnesen for…

After Michael Mancienne and Jacopo Sala, Turkish winger Gökhan Töre has become the third Chelsea player to join German club Hamburger SV, signing a three-year deal this evening. The 19 year-old returned from international duty, where he had been with the senior Turkish squad under Guus Hiddink, to his native Germany in Cologne before travelling to Hamburg for a medical examination today. Chelsea are believed to have received in the…

To finish the review of the season at youth and reserve level, we’ll hand out a few recognitions and ‘best ofs’. Rather than simply nominate individuals, multiple players will get mentions, which is the right way to do things, particularly at this level where everyone is developing and striving to better themselves each and every week. Youth Team: Todd Kane was voted the club’s Scholar of the Season and deservedly…

Hot on the heels of Michael Mancienne joining Hamburg earlier this week, news is breaking this afternoon that Italian midfielder Jacopo Sala has also been snared by Frank Arnesen and has signed a three-year deal with the German club. The Italian, who has represented his country at all junior levels up to Under-21, was not expected to move, with a year remaining on his contract, but has this afternoon been…

In 2010-11, Chelsea had more players represent England than any other club in the world. It’s a statistic which goes some way to countering the myth that the club imports the best talent from around the world at the expense of home-grown youngsters, particularly as many of them have been outstanding performers for the Three Lions. At the top, John Terry regained the captaincy, whilst Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 team has…

With almost half of all players used this season still at school, Chelsea are looking to the future like never before. No fewer than nineteen Under-16s or Under-15s appeared for Dermot Drummy this season as players pushed on through the ranks. The Blues may have finished a lowly ninth in Premier Academy League Group A, but followers would be wise to heed Drummy’s words and explanations as to the aims…

The season started and finished at Stamford Bridge, but the fact that only three players started both matches speaks volumes not only about the depth of quality in the ranks at this level, but the work done by Steve Holland and his coaching staff in juggling players on a game by game basis. A total of forty players turned out for the so-called ‘second string’, including no fewer than three…

England Under-21 captain and Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne has this afternoon arrived in Germany to finalise a €2m transfer to Bundesliga outfit Hamburg. After completing a medical, Mancienne will sign terms on a four-year deal before heading off to join back up with Stuart Pearce’s England squad ahead of the start of next week’s European Under-21 Championships. He will become Frank Arnesen’s first official signing since the former Danish international…