One of the main observations from the Chelsea matchup against FC Copenhagen in the first leg was just how young the side was. Enzo Maresca rolled out two teenagers in the Chelsea attack with Tyrique George and Shumaira “Shim” Mheuka” being named to the starting lineup.
George is the more senior of the two at 19 years old and it was actually his 7th appearance for the Blues in the UEFA Conference League and he recorded a vital assist to help Chelsea secure a narrow victory. The other youngster Mheuka was making his second appearance but first start in the competition and in doing so he made history.
According to OptaJoe, Mheuka became the youngest player to start for Chelsea in Europe at just 17 years and 137 days. He passed up another youngster in Joel Kitamirike (17yrs 196d) who started against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup in October 2001.
> 1 - At 17 years 137 days, Shumaira Mheuka is the youngest player to start for Chelsea in major European competition, surpassing Joel Kitamirike (17yrs 196d) against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup in October 2001. Cub. [pic.twitter.com/aTj2u0hFWy](https://t.co/aTj2u0hFWy)
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> — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) [March 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1897695082670628902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Ironically that appearance for Katamarike was the only one he ever made for the Chelsea senior team before making stops at Brentford, Dundee United, and MLS’s Columbus Crew among others. Hopefully Mheuka’s career path is wildly different as the promising youngster was pressed into duty with the Blues very thin at striker due to injury.
Unfortunately for Mheuka, he did not make much of an impact in the game as the Blues played a very subdued first half without threatening Copenhagen’s goal. He was then substituted off at halftime for Christopher Nkunku who played a part in the opening goal by pressing the Copenhagen defense into a mistake deep in their own half.
Mheuka joined the Chelsea Academy in 2022 after coming up through the Brighton & Hove Albion academy at 8 years old. He impressed there and made his under-18s debut at just 14 before making the switch to the London club.
The youngster has also been involved in the England youth setup with appearances at all levels from U14-U19 so far. He has a promising future with the club and will definitely be one to watch as he continues to climb the ladder at Cobham and Stamford Bridge.