Given the quality of the young players Chelsea constantly produce from their academy system, it is a given that not all of them are going to make it at the top level.
Enzo Maresca’s time in charge of the club has shown that there is an opportunity for players coming through to be given their chance with the first team.
Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong have both been promoted to the main squad since the Italian took over, with the latter tipped for a big season of minutes after Levi Colwill’s injury problems.
There have been some who have walked out of the club though, with Chelsea already feeling the consequences. Rio Ngumoha starred for Liverpool during pre-season, and looks set for minutes in the upcoming campaign.
Jude Soonsup-Bell in action during FC Chelsea v Zenit St. Petersburg: UEFA Youth League
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Former Chelsea youngster Jude Soonsup-Bell makes move to League Two
Something similar happened back in 2023 when promising forward Jude Soonsup-Bell made the switch across London to Tottenham.
The youngster had found limited opportunities to feature amongst the first team stars at the club, and believed a move to one of their biggest rivals was the best course of action for his career.
Things didn’t work out there either, and after spending time in Spain, Soonsup-Bell has been confirmed as a new Grimsby Town player.
The League Two side were victorious in their first game of the season, and will be looking to experience the talent many have always believed the youngster has had in him.
Pontus Jansson and Jude Soonsup-Bell challenge for the ball during Brentford vs Chelsea
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Petr Cech was a big fan of Soonsup-Bell
There was one occasion where Soonsup-Bell played for the Chelsea first team, with it coming during extreme circumstances for the club.
As the first team squad were heavily affected by Covid-19, he featured amongst a number of youngsters in the EFL Cup quarter-final in 2021.
Chelsea won 2-0, with Petr Cech praising Soonsup-Bell for stepping up to the task of making an impact for the first team squad when required.
The hope is that the forward can begin to rediscover some of the talent which saw him picked up by the Blues in the first place, and begin to climb the leagues again.