Sunderland v Chelsea FC - Premier League 2026/27
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Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso appears dejected
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Sunderland v Chelsea FC - Premier League 2026/27
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Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England looks on after the 6-4 win during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Final between France and England at Miami Stadium
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Maxence Lacroix of Chelsea
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Emmanuel Emegha of Chelsea consoles a dejected Valentin Barco
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Chelsea’s academy reigns supreme but ‘unbelievable’ footballer highlights their dilemma
Captain Conor Gallagher of Chelsea
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Declan Rice and Michael Olise were also once on the books at Chelsea’s academy, although the nature of their departures was much different to Ngumoha’s. But the point still stands. It can, at times, feel like Chelsea are developing players for others as if they were a feeder club, when in reality, you are talking about one of Europe’s most prestigious outfits, two-time Champions League winners.
What is Chelsea's best XI when everyone is fit? Here is our team! – What do you think?
I hate to say it,we will lose today
Ahaha class. He’s got a great chant too so gotta love him
Hazard was definitely that type of player but the reaction Estevao gets is just different. He reminds me of that famous clip where Messi starts warming up and all the Barca fans go mad. 60 year old blokes shouting Stevo all game even when he’s on the bench 😂
Chelsea’s rivals have kept hold of most of their elite talent
In contrast, take a look at some of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals, and they have kept most of their top academy players. For example, City possess even more wealth than Chelsea but have still trusted the likes of Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly.
They lost Cole Palmer, which is much worse than losing Guehi, to be fair, so a top player can slip through anywhere. But there is no denying that Chelsea’s overall track record is far worse. We have not even mentioned Newcastle United duo Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento.
Arsenal obviously have Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Lewis-Skelly could have actually been sold to Chelsea amid reports he was offered to the Blues and other clubs in the summer. The Gunners kept him. Vice versa, would BlueCo have done the same if Arsenal made a big-money offer?
Those at Chelsea will argue that James and Colwill are their version of Saka and Lewis-Skelly or Foden and O’Reilly, for example. But it cannot be forgotten that James got his shot in the first team because of Chelsea’s transfer ban and Frank Lampard, a manager who trusts young players.
In the universe where that transfer ban does not happen and Maurizio Sarri remains at Stamford Bridge, James probably never makes it into the first team.
Chelsea have the best academy in England and perhaps the world. Barcelona’s world famous La Masia is the only European academy you would rank above Chelsea’s. Cobham produces fine talent and makes the club a lot of money, but at the same time, it has aided some of Chelsea’s biggest Premier League rivals, which hands BlueCo a bit of a dilemma now and going forward.
Acheampong could sign a new contract in the future, but if not, the club are going to have a serious decision to make. How they manage his situation will tell us a lot about Cobham’s future.