Normally, when I write articles, I spend weeks on it – planning, writing, and editing. We’ve switched it up this time and if you’re reading this, just know that I started writing at 19:07 (still haven’t had dinner), so please excuse sentences which don’t make much sense. Did that even make sense? I don’t know.
I started writing a piece 2 months ago which never saw the light of day. It was going to talk about how everything has gone wrong for Chelsea as a result of their actions in the last few years, and that there wasn’t much light at the end of the tunnel either. Constant manager changes, players on long contracts with no business of being here, awful player development plans and decisions, tiredness and injuries, the lack of accountability from those upstairs, and so on.
But, there was a glimmer of hope – Xabi Alonso’s arrival. While recognising that he wasn’t, isn’t, and won’t be the messiah, the fact that an exciting manager was still interested in joining the club after what we’ve been through despite him having other offers, was encouraging enough. That, combined with the media briefs that the club were genuinely looking to change their model this summer, gave fans something to look forward to.
A couple months later, and boy, things have changed. Within a few weeks, Chelsea have been linked to Granit Xhaka, John Stones, Danny Welbeck & Jordan Henderson. You’re barely seeing the Sporting Directors’ names in the papers anymore – it’s all been Behdad and Alonso. Chelsea have taken seven, I REPEAT SEVEN, academy players on the first team pre-season tour.
As expected, it’s the latter I’ll be talking about in this article. Nothing too serious – just a word on why this is such an important step and what you can expect from the players involved if you haven’t seen them much before.
The importance of taking academy players on pre-season
Yes, the World Cup has delayed arrivals of multiple players, and gaps naturally opened up in training and the squad for academy players to be taken. I’m not acting like the club has completely changed philosophy, decide to prioritise Cobham and that we’re entering into a new era. But, clear changes have been made, and we’ll absolutely take it.
I have spoken a lot about the big academy changes which have been made in 2026 – notably Hassan Sulaiman moving from the U18s Head Coach to the Pathways programme who has recently been officially joined by Jack Francis, the leader of the operation. The cynical, negative, and pessimistic person that I am got me thinking that it would be an easy and cheap move to put the blame on those of the old regime for the lack of pathway from the academy into the first team, when we all know in reality it’s an issue integrated into the club’s culture and system which has been there for decades and built on further by the current sporting directors.
But, maybe, and just maybe, that culture is starting to change. Whether it’s in timely fashion after the new regime have cemented their position within Chelsea’s academy, or whether those leading the club have had a genuine eureka moment, it doesn’t really matter what the main factor is IF that culture is changing. It’s still not perfect – Josh Acheampong’s situation is far from perfect and the club mishandled Tyrique George, while they’re also looking to take Chalobah’s pure profit before moving on other (worse) defenders. But, like I said, steps are being taken in the right direction and mistakes of the past are hopefully being corrected.
In previous years, Chelsea will have filled up pre-season squads with useless matter. Just a few years ago we were seeing the likes of Batshuayi, (Malang) Sarr, Kenedy, and co. That same tour saw Thomas Tuchel drop Billy Gilmour, Harvey Vale and Tino Anjorin to the U21s pre-season. This year they could have taken Badiashile, Disasi, Deivid Washington and others. Chelsea fans used to use the argument that playing them in pre-season could “increase their transfer value” and as always would find any excuse they could.
It just makes the vibe sooooo much better. Fans will be excited to see the players who dominated at the U18s level. Games will actually be mostly full of players who are going to be at the club this season. And, most importantly, Alonso will get a genuine chance to see who he can rely on if required. I can think of at least ten times in the last few years when an academy player should have been used in a Premier League game because players were injured or out of form. Even Calum McFarlane, the interm first team Head Coach last season, failed to effectively use the squad he had thriving a few months earlier. Most managers are too afraid to chuck in someone as a starter or substitute – a lot of that fear is going to go away if you’ve seen them perform in pre-season and training beforehand rather than the one session you’ve given them the day before matchday.
Things are naturally going to change in the next month with the transfer window still open and opportunities will decrease. But, this is a cracking start, and who knows, if someone shines, there’s genuine belief they’ll be given a chance as good as anyone else. As always, I’ll fail to believe it until I see it, but hearing it is good enough for now.
Landon Emenalo
The son of Michael Emenalo has started to get into fans’ conversations this last month. With no senior left-back in the first few weeks of training, Landon has started both pre-season games (the only academy player to do so as far as I am aware) and has most certainly impressed the staff. He’s played most of his youth career as a midfielder, known for his ability to break up play, drive with power and his game intelligence. The last two seasons he’s been experimented with at left centre-back and left-back, often inverting, and has made the role his own. His quick feet means he keeps up with defenders – I remember him tracking Ryan McAidoo with ease last year while other defenders had their ankles broken.
It’s going to be interesting when Hato returns and Chelsea likely sign Pep Chavarria (or at least another left-back/left-wing-back). Landon’s entourage are adamant on him being involved in a first team environment this season, whether that is at Chelsea or elsewhere, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli
Chelsea fought off a lot of competition to keep Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli this year, with a move to Dortmund almost being completed, as far as I understand. The Blues were desperate to keep one of their star scholars and Xabi Alonso’s praise of the Australian-born youngster is the latest evidence as to why.
Often compared by those inside of Cobham to the old-school Ruben Loftus-Cheek, his game understanding and half turn makes him exciting. Tall and physical at just the age of 16, there’s still a lot more to come from him, especially in regards to using his dribbiling qualities more consistently. An impressive tour and he could see himself get some cup minutes later in the season.
Reggie Walsh
You all know enough about Reggie Walsh by now. He’s grown in size and you forget he’s still only 17. Enzo Maresca loved him for his football IQ, and he started to add more goals and assists to his game last season as well. Reggie’s really started to grow on me in the last six months and if Alonso wants a 10 who can drop deep and linkup play, he’s got the perfect cup option.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen
A unique player who no doubt will have surpised Alonso and his staff with his profile. There were whispers around Cobham that if the right move came around, Chelsea would consider a loan move for Ryan. Loaning a second-year scholar is extremely rare and the last time the club have done that (outfield player to a first team environment) was over a decade ago, I believe.
I don’t think that’ll happen, to be honest, and I don’t think it should. I was initially quite excited by the idea of him running in behind some League Two defenders and bagging 20 goals in the EFL at the age of 17, but perhaps the risk is greater than the reward. There’s plenty of development to do, and while at times he seems too good for academy football, at times he doesn’t, and that consistency is what the club will be looking to work on with the winger this season.
He got his deserved first team debut last season, and I cannot emphasise enough that if you want a substitute who can take shots off, give you a special moment, and frustrate defenders, he is that guy. Hopefully fans get to see what he’s really about.
Tayo Subuloye
Next up in the Cobham centre-back machine generator is Tayo. He’s had a brilliant two seasons for the U18s and recovered from a blip in performances last season very well. He’s tall and quick, loves to run with the ball and break lines. Previously a midfielder until the age of 16, you can see why he stepped back into defence.
He always impressed whenever I saw him step up to the U21s last season, and I remember an extremely comfortable performance at Kingsmeadow against Arsenal in what would’ve been one of his first U21 cameos. He can play in a back 3 or 4 and will be looking to remain a starter in the PL2 for the next few months.
Reggie Watson
If Watson gets on the pitch this tour, please remind yourself that he is just 16 years old. At the age of 15 he was dominating academy games and playing like a professional footballer – there are many in the club who strongly believe that the player’s character and profile is already ready for EFL football if he wanted it. If you had to take a bet on anyone inside Cobham having a senior career in football, he’d probably be in your top 3 with ease.
He covers ground quickly, is a set piece specialist, plays with confidence and leadership, breaks up play and almost always makes the right decision. Extremely comfortable on the ball in any scenario. If he gets minutes this tour, I genuinely think his cameos may go a bit viral on social media (no pressure, Reggie).
Another player who faced interest from every club in the country and Chelsea did extremely well to keep hold of!
Calvin Diakite
Calvin Diakite broke through into Chelsea’s U18s team as an U16 a couple seasons ago and looked super solid in defence. The left-footed England international and captain slightly struggled last season and didn’t kick on as most would’ve hoped, but he’ll be playing for a better 9 months and he’s got all the ability for it.
He’s still growing and working out where he’s best on the pitch, and that’s a very normal part of development. He picked it up again in the last few weeks of the season and was another strong performer in the U18s National Final at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea smacked Manchester City. An extremely vocal leader who is loved on and off the pitch, Calvin will be hoping to challenge academy signing Yisa Alao for left-back minutes and push on this season.
It’s an unbelievable experience for him to join the other lads in Australia, and there’s plenty he will look to learn from Emenalo and Hato.
In other news…
A bit of a personal update to end this piece.
While it’s not official, and things can change, we will likely be shutting down The Chelsea Spot Podcast. We haven’t uploaded an episode in 2026, for plenty of reasons which I won’t go into, and I can’t see much being recorded in the near future.
I’m heading back to University in September to pursure a Master’s degree, I won’t be around Cobham or Kingsmeadow for at least 9 months, and I will be the busiest I’ve ever been. I’m still keeping options open, as things can change and I love interviewing those with a story, so there may be the occasional episode here and there. But, I thought that many of you listeners and fans deserved an update after 7 months of silence.
I will still hopefully be at the Borehamwood pre-season fixture and a couple games in Christmas and Easter if anyone would like to say hello!
The Instagram and Twitter will continue to run as normal for now, and hopefully we can continue to provide you with the content you all look forward to.
💙
The Chelsea Spot 
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