Chelsea’s Cobham academy has also produced the likes of Mason Mount, a shining star who would appear to have guaranteed a place in the pantheon of club legends. And like every great football story, this is a story of peaks and troughs that are unbelievably high and unbelievably low. The boyhood Blue made a name under Frank Lampard before a £55M transfer took him to Old Trafford in a headline-grabbing deal. It promised glory and gave—well, crutches and groans.
The Rise of Mason Mount
It was a bang from which Mount’s Chelsea journey started. He returned to the Bridge in 2019 after having his teeth cut for a loan at Derby County, as Frank Lampard’s ‘golden boy.’ Lampard, perhaps inspired by a Disney movie, claimed him to be ‘exceptional,’ and Mason Mount delivered. Over those four years, he accumulated a full haul of 195 appearances, a pivotal figure in Chelsea’s triumphant 2020/21 Champions League campaign.
His hard work with creativity made him a fan favorite. Eventually, though, Mount’s story was not a fairytale ending, and Chelsea fans would soon lament.
A Costly Goodbye
In the summer of that year, 2023, Mount sold Blue to Red and joined Manchester United for £55m. The timing couldn’t have been better for Chelsea; they had a player at his market value. The move was like joining the circus, said Mount, only to find out he wasn’t the ringmaster; he was a trapeze artist falling off the ropes.
Countless have accumulated over his time at Old Trafford, with injuries reducing him to cameo appearances and long spells on the treatment table. Things haven’t gone to plan, only 32 games in 18 months and only 12 in the current 2024/25 season.
Mason Mount’s Plummeting Value
Mount’s cut considerably, according to Transfermarkt’s valuation, being worth £29m—that’s almost half the money United spent. For Chelsea fans, this is poetic justice. They might laugh among themselves over a cup of post-match tea and quip, Who’s exceptional now?” As things aren’t really his fault, let’s not kick a man when he’s down there.
To put it another way, Chelsea’s decision to sell him at his peak seems like a masterstroke. It was money from that sale that has allowed Enzo Maresca to rejuvenate his squad.
My Two Cents
It’s hard not to feel both admiration and pity for any football enthusiast when it comes to Mount. He was that kid who took Chelsea through thick and thin before demanding the wrath of fans when he did want to leave. The move to United was bold, but bold doesn’t always equal brilliant—just ask anyone who’s ever skydived without their parachute. I genuinely hope Mount will bounce back, not only because it’s for his sake but for poetic symmetry’s sake. And who doesn’t like a good redemption arc?
Chelsea’s Academy Continues to Shine
This story, and the abundance of quality at Mount, comes down to the quality of Chelsea’s academy that has produced players like Reece James, Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher. But Mount’s career hasn’t had a smooth trajectory, just a suited province for the state of football careers and fortunes.
As a main man in the Chelsea backline, Levi Colwill is thriving, and leaving Conor Gallagher for Atlético Madrid was more shrewd business. Ian Maatsen’s £37.5m move to Aston Villa was the latest proof of the ability of the academy to produce players that command hefty price tags.
Lessons from Mason Mount’s Journey
Mount’s tale is a cautionary one: moving away from your boyhood club doesn’t necessarily mean greener pastures. Chelsea fans will smirk now, but remember him fondly for his efforts.
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