Xabi Alonso celebrates
Xabi Alonso celebrates after Chelsea's dramatic win over Brighton(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP)
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History was made during Chelsea's 3-0 defeat at Brentford. While the majority of Blues supporters will want to eradicate thatFriday night in west London from their memories forever, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli won't forget it in a rush.
Nicoll-Jazuli became the first player born in 2010 to make a Premier League appearance. A frightening statistic but it emphasises just what Chelsea think of him.
One would presume Nicoll-Jazuli, given his tender age, won't make too many top-flight appearances this season but he is certainly a handy option for Xabi Alonso to have from the bench in some matches.
Game-state dependant, of course, but there are instances where Nicoll-Jazuli's calmness, composure and eye for a pass will help Chelsea seeing matches out this season.
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Many were shocked when Alonso brought Nicoll-Jazuli on against Brentford. Not only because of his age and inexperience but also due to the Blues being two goals down at the time. The game looked beyond the visitors - and so it proved - but the Chelsea manager still showed immense faith in the teenage sensation.
Asked about bringing Nicoll-Jazuli on for his debut, Alonso explained: "With 2-0, we brought Mahdi on. He has great energy, that at the moment in the middle, we are short on numbers."
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli in action
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli in action on his Premier League debut for Chelsea against Brentford(Image: Ryan Pierse)
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Chelsea left themselves a tad short in the midfield department after a disappointing conclusion to what was an overall promising summer transfer window. The Blues struck a £125million deal with Manchester City to sell Enzo Fernandez in the final hours of the window and it looked for all the world that Lamine Camara would be arriving at Stamford Bridge from AS Monaco.
However, despite Chelsea and Monaco agreeing a £47m deal for Camara, the Ligue 1 club pulled the plug at the last minute to leave the Blues shorthanded.
At his disposal, Alonso has Moises Caicedo (who has spent the majority of the early exchanges of the season out with a calf injury), Reece James (naturally a right-back), Malo Gusto (also traditionally a full-back), Romeo Lavia (whose past injury record is concerning), Valentin Barco (debut season in a new country) and Jordan Henderson (who many people don't think should be a regular starter).
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson impressed on his Chelsea debut against Brentford(Image: Alex Pantling)
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You can certainly add Nicoll-Jazuli to the above list of options but the 16-year-old is surely not a realistic candidate, just yet, to start Premier League games for Chelsea.
At the start of July, the Blues reached a deal with Nicoll-Jazuli and his camp to hand the teenager a new contract on scholarship terms. Nicoll-Jazuli is set to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 in January 2027.
Chelsea struck a similar agreement with Reggie Watson. The 16-year-old turns 17 in January and is then expected to pen professional terms at Stamford Bridge.
The club have sky-high hopes for the academy midfield duo. And supporters got to see what they were all about during the club's pre-season tour over the summer.
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli of Chelsea looks on before the Premier League 2 match between Chelsea U21 and West Ham United U21 at Kingsmeadow on August 31, 2026 in Kingston upon Thames, England
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli caught Xabi Alonso's eye during pre-season(Image: Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Watson featured in four out of the five matches while Chelsea played in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. The teenager, who is the son of former Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson, clearly made an impression on Alonso because he has been in and around the first-team squad at the start of the new campaign.
He made the bench for the Carabao Cup second round win over Luton Town, but didn't get on. Watson started, however, in the next round against Leeds United where he completed the first-half before being brought off at the break.
Reggie Watson
Xabi Alonso rates Reggie Watson really highly(Image: Adrian Dennis/AFP)
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Alonso trusts both Nicoll-Jazuli and Watson against Premier League opposition - he has made that abundantly clear. Both are more than viable options from the bench, perhaps not regularly, but they are two wildcards for Alonso to use as the season progresses.