SOME Chelsea academy prospects are now thriving first-team stars at the Blues – with one now becoming the most expensive British transfer ever.
The likes of Mason Mount and Reece James have made great strides from the youth team to become Premier League heroes.
Mount left West London this summer to sign for Manchester United in a £60million deal.
While Declan Rice has stolen the headlines – securing a record-breaking £105million move to London rivals Arsenal.
For years youth prospects were forced to spend time on loan and eventually leave the club permanently in search of first-team football.
SunSport picks out five of the Chelsea academy prospects that got away…
Read more Chelsea news
Declan Rice
The ex-West Ham midfielder was a top transfer target for the Blues, until the Gunners swooped to sign him.
Now a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England squad, it appeared the Blues missed a trick when they released him at the age of 14.
Rice revealed how he ‘broke down’ following the news but moved to the Hammers where he has cemented his reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in the country.
A move back to his boyhood club appeared almost inevitable, before Roman Abramovich’s sanction woes, but now they will have to see him wear the red and white of Arsenal.
Most read in Football
Rhian Brewster
The 22-year-old striker joined Chelsea aged seven having turned down the likes of Arsenal.
At the age of 14, he quit to join Liverpool where he felt his development was better suited elsewhere.
He made just three competitive appearances for the Reds but a loan stint at Swansea highlighted his potential.
The England U17s World Cup winner bagged 10 in 20 for the Swans and earned a £23.5million move to Sheffield United in 2020.
He suffered relegation with the Blades, and found goals hard to come by in the Championship with just one goal in 17 games last season.
Will be hoping to regain his earlier form in the Premier League again this season.
Nathan Ake
The Dutch defender was rewarded with a £40million switch to Man City in 2020 and a Treble winning-season last year after spending three impressive seasons at Bournemouth.
He joined Chelsea’s academy in 2011 from Feyenoord and had three loan spells with Reading, Watford and the Cherries.
Ake made seven league appearances for Chelsea before sealing his permanent move to Bournemouth for £20m in 2017.
Eddie Nketiah
Nketiah teamed up with the Chelsea academy as a nine-year-old but was released by the club in 2015.
Arsenal quickly snapped the now 24-year-old up, who committed his future to the club by signing a new contract last summer.
In his past two seasons, Nketiah has scored 19 goals for the Gunners in all competitions.
Bertrand Traore
Traore was first linked with a move to Chelsea in 2010 from Auxerre but it was 2013 when he was finally announced.
He was loaned to Vitesse and Ajax before making ten league appearances for Chelsea, scoring twice.
Read More on The Sun
Traore then spent three years with Lyon before earning a £17million switch to Aston Villa in 2020.
He enjoyed a loan in Turkey with Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir, and is negotiating a move away from Villa Park.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
