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Chelsea have always been a side that looks after their youth, particularly in the academy setups.
The Blues have seen their fine share of fantastic homegrown talent grace the Cobham Training Centre over the years – who have gone on to leave indelible marks on the club’s history.
There is something very special about when a youth player bursts through the academy ranks – and Chelsea has had them in abundance.
From Mason Mount to John Terry – here are the best Chelsea academy graduates of all time, brought to you by the Chelsea Chronicle.
Peter Bonetti is one of Chelsea‘s greatest-ever goalkeepers. He made over 700 appearances between 1959 and 1979. He was nicknamed “The Cat” due to his agility and quick reflexes.
Bonetti also represented the England national team, earning seven caps between 1966 and 1970. He was part of the England squad that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, although he didn’t play in any matches during the tournament.
Legendary defender Ron Harris is widely regarded as one of Chelsea’s greatest players of all time. Harris spent the majority of his career at Chelsea, making over 600 appearances for the club after breezing through the academy ranks.
He captained Chelsea to their first-ever FA Cup victory in 1970, which would be the first of many in the club’s long illustrious history.
Jimmy Greaves joined Chelsea as a youth player and made his first-team debut for the club in 1957 at the age of 17. During his time at Chelsea, he showcased his exceptional goal-scoring abilities, netting an impressive 132 goals in 169 league appearances.
He went on to become one of the greatest forwards the English game has ever seen for a variety of other clubs.
Bobby Tambling is another iconic figure in Chelsea Football Club’s history. He was a talented English footballer who played as a forward for Chelsea during the 1960s.
He is particularly renowned for his goal-scoring prowess, becoming Chelsea’s all-time leading goal-scorer before Frank Lampard eventually surpassed his record.
Peter Osgood had two spells at Chelsea, with the first beginning in the academy. He was one of the finest attackers the club ever had the pleasure to see.
During his two tenures, Osgood won numerous honours, including the FA Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and the League Cup. Osgood’s most famous goal came in the 1970 FA Cup final replay against Leeds United, where he scored with a diving header.
Terry Venables was an outstanding midfielder for the Blues. He was the heartbeat of the early 1960s team, the majority of which had come up through the youth team under the guidance of Tommy Docherty.
Venables went on to have a brilliant managerial career, most notably for England and Barcelona. He sadly died in November 2023 aged 80.
Ray Wilkins began his career at Chelsea, where he was appointed captain at the age of 18, and later played for clubs including Manchester United, AC Milan and Queens Park Rangers.
After a long playing career, Wilkins moved into coaching and twice was assistant manager at Chelsea, under Gianluca Vialli from 1999 to 2000, and from September 2008 to November 2010, under Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti. He passed away in 2018.
Le Saux was signed as an 18-year-old from a junior club in Jersey in 1987 and went into the academy setup around the Cobham Training Centre.
When he did break through, he was immense. The defender was an ever-present force, but his versatility meant he never locked down a position and was sold to Blackburn. He then returned to Chelsea in 1997 for £5m, a record for an English defender, and endured six more happy years at Stamford Bridge.
John Terry is not only a legend of Chelsea but is also the Blues’ most successful player following a trophy-laden 19 seasons at Stamford Bridge. Their former club captain won 15 major titles in west London.
He even touched his first piece of silverware in 2000 and lifted his last in 2017. Not bad for an academy graduate.
One that likely won’t be very popular around Stamford Bridge with hindsight, Mason Mount also came through the Blues academy.
After spending six years at Chelsea, he swapped blue for red – heading to Premier League rivals Manchester United for £60m.
The one that got away, Declan Rice was once part of Chelsea’s academy setup. Now he’s one of the best midfielders in England’s top flight.
Rice began his professional career at West Ham United, having been released by Chelsea’s academy, and established himself as a key first-team player by 2017. He then moved to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 for a whopping £105m.
Chelsea’s current club captain, Reece James, also came through the youth setup. He has since gone on to become one of the club’s most valuable assets, despite an extensive injury record.
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