With Ruben Loftus-Cheek already agreeing on a new long-term contract, and Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi looking to follow suit, this summer has already heralded mass change at Stamford Bridge.
Youth players finally look like they’ll get the opportunity to impress the new Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who himself is a big believer in playing youngsters.
This is a much-needed change from Chelsea, who in previous seasons looked to be moving further and further away from using promoting youth players. Last season under Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea loaned out a mass 41 players, a simply staggering figure.
Chelsea’s reluctance to give youth a chance proves quite a baffling standpoint especially when you look at the club’s success at youth level. In the short history of the UEFA Youth League, Chelsea have made four of the six finals, winning twice and finishing runner-up twice. Most recently, Chelsea lost the 2018/2019 final of the UEFA Youth League to the Porto under-19’s. As well as European competition, Chelsea have dominated domestically, recently winning five FA Youth Cups in a row from 2014 to 2018.
Some of that success has translated to action in the first-team. Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi are both winners of the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League in recent seasons and enjoyed successful seasons with the first-team last season. Loftus-Cheek scored 10 goals in 14 starts, and Hudson-Odoi scored four goals and assisted a further three in just eight starts for Chelsea, as Chelsea lifted the Europa League.
As well as Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi, Mount also enjoyed a spectacular season, coming within touching distance of Premier League promotion, as Derby Count narrowly lost the Championship play-off final.
Chelsea’s youth have proven last season they have the talent to thrive, and with Lampard being appointed the new manager, things are looking promising for the youngsters. Chelsea’s change in policy this summer will be good for the club, who with so many talented youth players will only continue to better as a club.
