Chelsea were once accused of tapping-up a trio of Leeds academy starlets after landing a promising wonderkid.
The Blues signed 16-year-old Michael Woods in 2006 after the teenager turned down a scholarship at Elland Road.
Chelsea were forced to pay £5million as part of an out-of-court settlement from their signing of Woods
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Chelsea were forced to pay £5million as part of an out-of-court settlement from their signing of WoodsCredit: PA:Press Association
Then Leeds chairman Ken Bates, who had previously owned Chelsea, responded by accusing his old side of tapping up Woods.
Bates also alleged that the Premier League giants had used a similar approach towards two other Leeds academy players.
Although future England international Danny Rose remained at the club, Tom Taiwo would join Woods in moving to west London.
Leeds' accusations resulted in the two sides reaching an out-of-court settlement over the transfers.
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Chelsea ultimately paid £5million in compensation to Leeds for the signings of Woods and Taiwo.
Meanwhile, the then Championship side withdrew their allegations upon reaching the settlement.
What happened to Michael Woods?
As for Woods, the promising midfielder was already an England youth international at the time and would make their 2009 Under-20 World Cup squad.
He spent five years with Chelsea, which included a loan spell with Notts County.
During that time, Woods was included on the bench in the Premier League but never featured in the top-flight for the Blues.
Instead, he would make two FA Cup appearances during the 2006/07 season aged just 16.
Woods made his Chelsea debut aged just 16 and remains their fifth-youngest player ever
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Woods made his Chelsea debut aged just 16 and remains their fifth-youngest player everCredit: Getty
The midfield starlet would leave the club in 2011, though, without a league appearance
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The midfield starlet would leave the club in 2011, though, without a league appearanceCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Chelsea's youngest ever players
Ian Hamilton - 16 years, 138 days
Kingsley Whiffen - 16 years, 157 days
Reggie Walsh - 16 years, 193 days
Tommy Langley - 16 years, 274 days
Michael Woods - 16 years, 275 days
John Sparrow - 16 years, 283 days
Michael Harrison - 16 years, 360 days
Jose Mourinho brought Woods off the bench in their third and fourth round victories over Macclesfield and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Chelsea would go on to win the competition that season, although their wonderkid midfielder would not feature again.
Despite that, he remains the club's fifth youngest player of all-time at 16 years and 275 days.
Woods left Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2011, joining Yeovil Town the following year and later winning the League One title with Doncaster.
After leaving Rovers in 2013, he dropped into non-league with Harrogate Town in 2018 before a four-year spell at Hartlepool.
Since a return to Harrogate, though, Woods has embarked on a nomadic non-league career across the past seven years.
Woods dropped into non-league after spells at Yeovil, Doncaster and Hartlepool
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Woods dropped into non-league after spells at Yeovil, Doncaster and HartlepoolCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The former England youth international now stars for Whitby in the seventh tier
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The former England youth international now stars for Whitby in the seventh tierCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Michael Woods' career path
2006-11 - Chelsea
2010 - Notts County (Loan)
2012 - Yeovil
2012-13 - Doncaster
2013-14 - Harrogate Town
2014-18 - Hartlepool
2018-19 - Harrogate Town
2019-20 - Dover Athletic
2020-22 - York City
2022-24 - South Shields
2024 - Blyth Spartans
2024-25 - Scarborough
2025-Present - Whitby
Honours: FA Cup, League One
He has played for Dover, York City, South Shields, Blyth Spartans and Scarborough during that time.
Now 19 years on from joining Chelsea, Woods signed for Northern Premier League side Whitby in February.
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The club, who play in the seventh tier of English football, are the 11th permanent outfit of his career.
Woods has scored once in 11 appearances so far this season, with Whitby sitting ninth in the table.