Top 3 Academy Products at Chelsea FC

It is certainly no secret that Chelsea FC have a trend of buying and using talents from other clubs rather than graduating the one’s already available at the club’s helm. This is often looked upon as a negative as many teams often claim Chelsea FC are ‘buying’ their success. The clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal in England have a trend of promoting a few of their young prodigies and also giving them a chance to prove themselves with the first team. There is little progress in that aspect with Chelsea.

However, that doesn’t mean that the Academy products are average players or just-not-good-enough. We have a number of impressive players at our disposal, and are counted upon to be the next generation of superstars to play for the first team and go on and form the base of the team like John Terry managed to do.

1)      Nathaniel Chalobah

England, Defender/Midfielder

One of the most decorated Chelsea academy products, Nathan Chalobah currently is on loan at Watford under Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola. Zola has not been shy to heap praise on the Chelsea youngster, rating him to be good enough to challenge John Terry, David Luiz, Cahill and others at defence or maybe have a say in the defensive midfield role at Chelsea within a few years. This means a lot! When he is in the U-21 team at Chelsea, he often proudly wore the captains arm band, earning praise as being a true leader on the pitch. Nathan is also currently captaining the England U-19 side. He was also called up to represent the England U-21 side for a match against Northern Ireland. A leader on the pitch, fearless and composed in defense and over that having a good vision for passing makes Nathaniel Chalobah one of the top three academy products that Chelsea have at the moment as per the analysis of ChelseaFC360.com

2) Sam Hutchinson

England, Defender

One of the fairy tale stories at Chelsea. A player coming from retirement to rejoin the squad, the story of Sam Hutchinson will be a story worth telling if he manages to achieve the benchmark he has set in the minds of the fans. He is highly regarded by the Board as well as the fans owing to his maturity for the game and also determination to get out of retirement to follow his dream of becoming a professional player for Chelsea.

Samuel Hutchinson had to face a lot of annoying period being helpless because of his constant knee injuries. After getting fed up, he was forced to retire from playing in 2010,aged 21 then, but didn’t give up his focus from football. He immediately started coaching classes with a view of maybe someday contributing to the clubs progress from inside.

But then, to the amusement of the fans, Sam Hutchinson came back from retirement after he decided to give one more go at having a players’ career. Sam signed one and a half year contract in 2011, then moving onto Nottingham Forest on a season long loan in the August of 2012.

Sam Hutchinson have the ability to play as a composed centre back or at right back. He can be identified more as the Ivanovic-type player, for whom defense comes first, but doesn’t forget about contributing to the attacking force of the team.

However, the bad news was that he had to return to Chelsea in the middle of his loan spell following another knee injury, and is till date undergoing treatment for the same. God knows how far this talented young lad could go if he finally breaks free from his injury issues.

3) Joshua McEachran

England, Midfielder

Joshua McEachran is one of the player who dazzled and mesmerized Chelsea fans during the short spell of time he got with the first team. Josh made his home debut against Newcastle United in a League cup tie, where fans took back home more happiness witnessing a future midfield magician, even after the team lost to the Magpies. He even won the Best Chelsea Young Player Award in his debut season with the first team in 2011.

However, with that, his time with on the bench than on the pitch became a cause of thinking, initiating his on-loan move to Swansea City in January 2012, and then moving to Middlesbrough in August 2012, where he is highly regarded by the Boro fans after impressive performances. He had a wonder run against Sheffield Wednesday after taking on 4-5 players before being beaten by the keeper.

Josh McEachran has a talent in picking out the perfect passes and has a far more attacking intent to his passing. Chelsea ex-assistant manager has claimed him to be the rightful heir to the throne of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.

Notable Mentions:

1)      Milan Lalkovic

2) Billy Clifford

3) Conor Clifford

4) Ruben Loftus Cheek