Chelsea’s academy has produced a lot of top players, but Charly Musonda may arguably be the most talented to come out of Cobham.
Technically, Musonda was incredible. His skill and flair saw him earn comparisons to compatriot Eden Hazard.
Unfortunately for both Musonda and Chelsea, though, he was never able to fulfil his potential after being plagued by injuries.
At 28 years of age, the Belgian has now been forced to retire from football, announcing his decision to do so on Monday.
Charly Musonda of Chelsea before Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Chelsea
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Charly Musonda was determined to make it at Chelsea
Retiring is not a decision that Musonda would have wanted to make, while the former winger was also extremely reluctant to give up on his Stamford Bridge dream.
When he spoke to The Independent in an interview six years ago, he said: “I know people will doubt me because, after a year-and-a-half [out], they don’t know if I’m still the same player. But deep down, I know how good I can be.
“I want to show the world what I can do and, if I prove I’m still the same Charly Musonda, I’m 100% confident I can break back into the Chelsea team. Maybe it’s me being a bit naive or overconfident or just believing I can do it, but that has been my dream since I was 15 years old and that’s never changed. I want to wear the Chelsea shirt one more time.”
Musonda never got a chance to play for Chelsea again after being released by the club in 2022. He managed to make just seven appearances for the first team, scoring one goal, which came in the Carabao Cup.
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All in all, given his talent and how desperate he was to be a success in west London, to see Musonda retire before the age of 30 is heartbreaking.
The same can be said of Hazard’s retirement. The Chelsea legend called it quits in 2023, hanging up his boots at the age of 32.
Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Charly Musonda of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Charly Musonda’s retirement announcement
Musonda announced his retirement and explained his decision to stop playing football in a sit-down with Rising Ballers.
“It took some time,” the ex-Belgium youth international said. “I have been thinking about it for the last couple of years. Purely because of my own experiences and who I am as a person.
“I want to be doing things with purpose. I want to inspire and motivate people. I want to create opportunities. I am starting something new that will hopefully help players.
“Today, I have made a decision. It is a decision I have been wrestling with for a long time, but I am going to retire from professional football. It is not an easy decision, but I am building up towards the next stage now.”
While things never quite worked out for Musonda at Chelsea, the Blues have a couple of Cobham graduates in their first team who have been huge successes.
Today, Reece James captains Chelsea and has won three European trophies since breaking into the senior squad. He plays alongside Levi Colwill, another product of Chelsea’s famous academy.
They live the dream that Musonda once had, and if it were not for injuries, maybe he would have achieved it.