Teenage midfielder Reggie Watson has given an insight into settling into life under Xabi Alonso. The 16-year-old was the only player in the squad to start and finish the Blues’ thrilling pre-season win over Western Sydney Wanderers, a job he was given no heads-up for.
Watson’s rise has been precipitous rather than incremental, a trajectory befitting one of England’s most coveted young midfield technicians. The central midfielder is an England-born prospect who joined in July 2025 on a deal until June 2028, after being poached from Crystal Palace’s academy as an under-15.
Looking back on the tutelage of his decorated new boss, Watson said:
“I’ve watched Xabi Alonso clips on YouTube growing up; now I’m getting passes from him in training. He is still an unbelievable player and he understands my position so well. I have already learned a lot from him and it will make me a better player.”
That admission is notable, given Alonso’s pedigree in the very role Watson is playing. The Spaniard played 210 times for Liverpool before moving to Real Madrid in 2009 and finished his playing days at Bayern Munich in 2017. Few tutors could improve the craft of a deep-lying orchestrator more.
Watson elaborated on the paternal influence behind his footballing education:
“I think a lot of people know this, but I grew up around football. My dad, Ben, was a professional; he scored that famous FA Cup final goal for Wigan against Manchester City, and he has been a huge influence on me.”
Watson Sr. made 189 appearances for Crystal Palace and had a durable career with Wigan Athletic, Watford, Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic. That big inheritance looks set to be overshadowed by his son.
Xabi Alonso explains Reggie Watson playing the full ninety minutes
A part of the circumstances that allowed Watson to stay in the position for the full 90 against Western Sydney was accidental, not entirely planned. Alonso said that Romeo Lavia was suffering from hamstring discomfort and had been withdrawn from proceedings as a precaution.
The game itself was gloriously scruffy for a season-opening friendly. Dastan Satpayev opened the scoring inside five minutes, but the Wanderers hit back twice before Dario Essugo equalised before the break. Jamie Gittens came on and scored, and Joao Pedro then helped himself to a nine-minute hat-trick, winning the game 6-4 despite the Blues trailing three times.
Explaining the reason behind the teenager’s marathon evening, Alonso said:
“He [Lavia] felt something in the hamstring. Not a big thing and, hopefully, we are expecting him to be fit for Saturday [against Tottenham Hotspur]. But there was no point in taking risks today, which is why Reggie Watson played 90 minutes and did well.”
Chelsea will face Tottenham Hotspur at Accor Stadium on August 1 before playing Juventus in Hong Kong. Watson could reasonably expect to be involved further.