Ahh, the great loan game is already well underway at Stamford Bridge with nine players under the age of twenty-three out the door and many more sure to follow. In fairness these early loans include players such as Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher who do have genuine first team prospects.
The trendsetters on using an academy as a money-making venture, Chelsea have made significant profit this summer (with four weeks left in the window). Marc Guehi, fresh off a strong season at Swansea, has left for Crystal Palace while Pierre Ekwah (West Ham), Dynel Simeu and Valentino Livramento (Southampton), Myles Peart-Harris (Brentford) and Lewis Bate (Leeds) have all rejected new contracts and joined Premier League clubs to take up probable first team roles. Each of those will generate profit when their final compensation payments are worked out - currently estimated at between one and five million per player.
All in all it leaves a picture that is tough to work out. Who will be sent out on loan - Chelsea usually have around thirty players at any one time temporarily at other clubs - and who will be kept? Will anyone get a chance to shine? After the promotions of Reece James, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi was viewed as a new start for a youth focused Chelsea, the minutes for new youngsters dropped off a cliff. Are they still interested in following that policy?
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Karlo Ziger |
| CB | Sam McClelland |
| CB | Xavier Mbuyamba |
| RB | Dujon Sterling |
| LB | Alex Kpakpe |
| CM | Faustino Anjorin |
| CM | Xavier Simons |
| CM | George McEachran |
| RW | Bryan Solhaug Fiabema |
| LW | Thierno Ballo |
| CF | Jude Soonsup-Bell |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Pos | |
| GK | Ted Curd |
| CB | Alfie Gilchrist |
| CB | Brodi Hughes |
| RB | Derrick Abu |
| LB | Luke Badley-Morgan |
| CM | Charlie Webster |
| CM | Harvey Vale |
| CM | Josh Tobin |
| RW | Silko Thomas |
| LW | Lewis Hall |
| CF | Ronnie Stutter |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Faustino Anjorin
- Position: AM
- Age: 19
- Nationality: English
An England U19 international, “Tino” Anjorin is considered the closest prospect for a first team role in the Chelsea youth system although a bout of Covid has limited his appearances in pre-season. A six foot tall, muscular forward player, Anjorin’s build is not typical for a technically focused player but does help him handle the pressure of adult football. He has an aesthetically pleasing languid style, which can often be mistaken as laziness, but actually anyone who watches closely will see that he simply saves his energy for individual moments where he injects bursts of pace and power. Having scored thirty-five goals in eighty-three youth team appearances, Anjorin is now set to build upon his solitary Premier League appearance - if Tuchel has the interest in using him.
Armando Broja (on loan at Southampton)
- Position: CF
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Albanian
English born Albian international Broja is a typical Chelsea style striker. A big bodied, physically robust player who holds the ball up well and brings others into the attack, he follows the procession of forwards from Chelsea lore for whom goalscoring is of secondary importance. Another one of the seemingly endless loan conveyor belt between Chelsea and Vitesse, Broja scored ten times for the Dutch club and returned to Chelsea in pre-season where he impressed in limited early outings. Eventually he was returned to U23 football and will spend this season on loan at Southampton - much to the chagrin of Chelsea fans. The fact this will be his second full season of top flight football - aged just nineteen - should outline his potential.
Jude Soonsup-Bell
- Position: CF
- Age: 17
- Nationality: English
Centre-forward Jude Soonsup-Bell scored eighteen times in sixteen appearances for the U18s last season, having transitioned to the role from his more natural position as a winger. A skilful and explosive dribbler, the England U17 international was far too good for the U18s league in 2020/21 and has already started training with the first team on a regular basis. He is both footed and possesses a quick football brain, allowing him to make unusual runs to confuse opposition defenders. This season he will likely start in the U23 set up where if he can replicate his form from the U18s, he is sure to be close to getting first team chances. The former Swindon youth team player is unlikely to go on loan and will instead stay to train daily with Chelsea’s first team, allowing him more opportunities to prove to Tuchel that good enough does mean old enough.