Chelsea Could hit a jackpot player who was sold £3m under Conte, he’s now worth 2066% more

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Chelsea’s Cobham Academy: A Production Line of Talent

Chelsea boasts one of the finest academy systems in world football, with Cobham consistently producing top-tier talent. Many players from the academy have either become key figures for Chelsea or gone on to excel at other clubs, both within and beyond England.

Current Stars: Reece James and Levi Colwill

At present, Reece James and Levi Colwill are two standout Cobham graduates playing crucial roles in Chelsea’s first team. James, now club captain, and Colwill, a regular starter with 40 appearances for the Blues, are prime examples of the academy’s success.

Notable Departures: Loftus-Cheek, Abraham, and Hudson-Odoi

In recent years, several other academy products have left Chelsea to seek opportunities elsewhere. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham, Lewis Hall, and Ian Maatsen are just a few examples of players who moved on, leaving their mark at various clubs.

Cobham Talents Who Got Away

Declan Rice and Michael Olise

Two notable talents who left Chelsea’s academy at a young age without making a first-team appearance are Declan Rice and Michael Olise. Both have gone on to thrive in the Premier League.

Rice spent seven years in Chelsea’s youth system (2006-2013) before being released at 14. He then joined West Ham, where he blossomed into a key player, making 245 appearances, scoring 15 goals, and earning a £105 million move to Arsenal.

Olise, who was with Chelsea from 2009-2016, also left at 14. He briefly joined Manchester City before moving to Reading, where he made 73 appearances. After shining at Crystal Palace, he secured a £50.8 million transfer to Bayern Munich.

Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher

Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are two players who did break into Chelsea’s first team before being sold. Mount played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League triumph, making 195 appearances and contributing 33 goals and 35 assists before joining Manchester United in 2023 for £55 million.

Gallagher, who captained Chelsea for much of the 2023/24 season, made 95 appearances, scoring 10 goals and assisting 10 times. He left Chelsea this summer in a £33 million move to Atlético Madrid.

Dominic Solanke: A Missed Opportunity

Solanke’s Journey After Chelsea

Another notable Cobham product who left Chelsea early is Dominic Solanke. Unlike Rice and Olise, Solanke did make his mark in Chelsea’s youth ranks, scoring 35 goals in 45 games. However, he was sold to Liverpool for just £3 million in 2017.

After struggling for game time at Liverpool, Solanke joined Bournemouth for £19 million in 2019. He flourished there, making 216 appearances, scoring 77 goals, and providing 31 assists. His standout season came in 2023/24, where he netted 19 Premier League goals, earning a £65 million move to Tottenham this summer.

Solanke’s Rise at Spurs

At Tottenham, Solanke has continued his strong form, scoring three goals and providing two assists in his first nine appearances for the club this season.

Comparing Solanke to Chelsea’s Current Strikers

Chelsea’s current striking options, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, have been impressive this season. Jackson has scored five goals in nine appearances, while Nkunku has netted seven in just 12 appearances.

However, Solanke brings a unique dimension to his game that Chelsea’s forwards don’t offer. His aerial prowess, winning 1.74 aerial duels per 90 minutes, makes him a physical threat in the box, something that Chelsea might find useful as they look to add more depth to their striking options.

Could Solanke Have Thrived at Chelsea?

While Chelsea have invested wisely in Jackson and Nkunku, there’s no denying that Solanke could have added a different skill set to the team. His ability to bully defenders and win aerial duels could have made him an asset had he stayed at Stamford Bridge.