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Chelsea have completed the signing of Leo Black after the former Tottenham U-21 player impressed in a Cobham trial. The 20-year-old can operate at right-back or in midfield and has now secured a two-year contract with the west London club, as per latest transfer news.
Leo Black earns Chelsea contract after trial
As reported by The Standard, Black left Tottenham in June after his long association with the club came to an end. He had spent 12 years in the Spurs academy and made almost 100 appearances across different age groups.
His time in north London also gave him some experience around the senior squad. Ange Postecoglou gave Black the opportunity to train with Tottenham’s first-team and he was part of their 2024 pre-season tour.
After leaving Spurs when his contract expired, the versatile youngster underwent a trial to impress at Chelsea. His performances were enough to convince the club to offer him a permanent deal. Black has now signed a two-year contract, giving him another chance to continue his development at a major London club.
Strong start with Chelsea Under-21s
As reported by LiveScore, Black quickly made an impression after joining Chelsea’s academy setup. He made his U-21 debut in an exciting 5-4 win against West Ham.
He then found the net in matches against Arsenal and Fulham. Those performances gave him two goals in Premier League 2 and earned him a place among the nominees for the division’s September Player of the Month award. His nomination came alongside Chelsea teammates Reggie Watson and Chizaram Ezenwata. While the award itself is only an early achievement, Black’s performances have given him a positive start at his new club.
His ability to play in more than one position could also work in his favour. He can provide cover at right-back but has enough experience in midfield to offer Chelsea another option in that area. Black also arrives with experience of senior-level training from his time at Tottenham. That could help him adjust to the demands of playing in a new academy environment.
Chelsea Football Stadium - Stamford Bridge
Chelsea Football Stadium - Stamford Bridge
Leo Black’s Premier League 2 stats for Tottenham’s U21 side for the 2025/26 season, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Appearances Goals Assists Passing Accuracy(%) Duels Won(%)
Premier League 2 18 2 1 86.3% 35.4%
Can Black break into Chelsea’s first-team?
Next up will be to convert his strong academy start into an opportunity with Chelsea’s senior side. Black has earned himself a contract with his performances but first-team football will depend on how he progresses and the opportunities available to him.
When the right situation arises, Xabi Alonso has shown he is willing to trust young players already. Reggie Watson, for example, started Chelsea’s Carabao Cup match against Leeds. However, Chelsea’s schedule could make the path more difficult. The club will not play in Europe this season, which means there are fewer fixtures where academy players can potentially receive senior opportunities.
For now, Black will be focused on continuing to perform for Cobham Next Gen. His two-year deal gives him time to develop and prove that he can compete for a place higher up the Chelsea system. The move also represents a fresh chapter after more than a decade at Tottenham. If Black can maintain his early form, he could give himself a chance of catching Alonso’s attention in the future.
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