Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
A former Aston Villa star won’t play for Chelsea again this season.
Aston Villa academy product Omari Kellyman has suffered a serious injury and won’t be able to feature again until at least the start of next season.
Kellyman, who left Villa for Chelsea in a surprising £17 million deal last summer, is yet to play for the Blues at senior level. The 19-year-old featured on just six occasions for Villa’s first team before making his move to Stamford Bridge, too, so his experience has been limited.
Hide Ad
The attacking midfielder has been suffering from recurring hamstring problems and hasn’t been able to progress as hoped. The mere tally of three appearances for Chelsea’s under-21 side this term emphasises Kellyman’s struggles with the former Villa man having to show great resilience and patience to wait for his next opportunity.
Having already won seven caps for England’s under-19s, Kellyman, who Villa originally signed from Derby County in 2021, is undoubtedly a promising talent. He won’t be able to progress any further for many more months, however.
Kellyman recently took to social media to update supporters on his situation. Posting on Instagram, the teenager wrote: "Beyond gutted to say that this season has come to an early end for me due to a re-injury of my hamstring, despite only just returning after having hamstring issues for a massive part of this season.
"24-25 has been a tough season for me mentally and physically due to injury but it's important now that I take time to get this right and come out the other side stronger and better ready for what next season brings."
Hide Ad
Carney Chukwuemeka enduring similar struggles
Fellow former Villa academy star Carney Chukwuemeka is also having a difficult season due to injury struggles. The 21-year-old signed for the Blues from the Villans for £15 million in 2022, but he has failed to live up to expectations.
The versatile midfielder was signed due to his high potential and promising early progression at Villa Park, much like Kellyman. It’s not quite worked out for him, however, with just 746 minutes accumulated in his first three seasons at Stamford Bridge.
An exciting loan opportunity arose in January as Chukwuemeka joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season. Game time has been reduced in Germany too, though, with just 62 minutes of action across five substitute appearances so far. His situation hasn’t been helped by a knee injury and muscular problems.
Chelsea will be hoping both Kellyman and Chukwuemeka can put their fitness woes behind them and begin to develop sooner rather than later. Villa, meanwhile, will be disappointed to see their former players struggling but will be delighted to have earned a combined £32 million from their sales.
Hide Ad
Manager Enzo Maresca is expected to cut down on his squad size in the summer, so it’ll be interesting to see who survives. It’s also worth noting that Dortmund have an option to buy Chukwuemeka for £30 million in the summer.
In other news, images from Villa’s first two days of warm-weather training in Dubai could confirm two worst injury fears.