Why world’s best talents are flocking to Chelsea’s academy despite mass competition – wonderkids, parents and agents hail Cobham’s unstoppable production line and the future Ballon d’Or winners set to shine: CHELSEA CONFIDENTIAL

I had an interesting conversation last week with the parent of one of Chelsea’s academy prospects who has been fortunate enough to earn the odd call-up to Enzo Maresca’s first team this season.

The topic was the club’s policy of signing young players with potential, Geovany Quenda from Sporting Lisbon being the latest 17-year-old landed for circa £40million with another two 2007-born wonderkids in Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez incoming this summer for £29m and £17m respectively.

While the focus appears to have been on the attack, there are defensive deals being worked on, too.

Truth be told, I anticipated negativity when I asked the question, so I was taken aback by the take which followed, relayed here word for word under condition of anonymity.

‘From a parent point of view, the signing of youngsters from all over the world is the best thing that could ever happen to (name redacted), in my own opinion,’ went the reply.

‘The reason I say this is because of the quality and benchmark that he has to reach in order to be considered the best of the best. It will also help his game and push him to be a world class player without any bias.

‘I would rather see (player) walk into a dressing room with Ballon d’Or contenders and mix with the best to enhance his development. It is also an opportunity for him to outshine the talent coming in.

‘In as much as we want the boys to excel, we have to be honest with the level they are going to be showcasing their abilities. Imagine when he or the other academy boys become solid members of what the club are trying to build.

‘From my own assessment, Cobham has enough talent to compete with any talent around the world.’

Obviously, this is one view. There were some reservations among other representatives consulted, one of whom described it as ‘ruthless’ amid the assumption Chelsea would be inclined to favour those who cost money to bring to the club.

Still you would hope once they are on the same pitch, performance trumps price. Maresca has handed 10 debuts to players aged 21 or younger this season, seven of whom have come through the academy.

If you are at Cobham, you are not scared of competition. Hopefully the boys will back themselves – even if it is getting tougher.

They know Chelsea are not backing down on a strategy they hope will deliver the same success they had with Cole Palmer, who was 21 when he joined for £40m from Manchester City.

As well as seeking the view from Cobham, I also asked the agent of one of Chelsea’s starlet signings why they believed it was the right move for their client so early in his career.

Anonymously, the intermediary told me, again word for word: ‘They are showing their long-term project. It’s the best in the world.

‘When you currently have the best young players, and you are signing the best of the best in promising players, you just can succeed.’

Optimism all around, it would appear, and Chelsea higher-ups believe it will prove a winning formula on and off the pitch.

BlueCo’s newest 2007-born signing revealed

Confidential previously revealed how Chelsea are trying to corner the African market, having hired a new scouting team to scour a continent they believe is untapped.

Now they have a 17-year-old Senegalese winger called Yaya Dieme training with them at Cobham.

One of Chelsea’s new scouts, Achirou Gaoh, has been in London with the teenager who helped his country win the Under 17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Dieme hails from the Diambars football academy set up by Patrick Vieira in 2003. It is a talent factory which has produced Premier League players such as Idrissa Gana Gueye of Everton.

As was the case with Pape Daouda Diong from the Academie Foot Darou Salam in Dakar, I’m told Dieme is set to sign for Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg. He will turn 18 in October, and is expected to make the move to France in the following January.

Pareece’s Puskas-esque finish

Search the name ‘Pareece Hull’ on social media and you will find footage of a Chelsea Under 10 footballer scoring a rainbow-flicked goal against Arsenal so outrageously good that it would have us calling for the Puskas Award if it had happened in a men’s match last week.

Hull’s journey started with We Make Footballers, who are a fine organisation led by Sean Conlon that train children aged four to 12 across the country.

Conlon is also a Chelsea scout and of the 250-plus fledglings who have gone on to sign with professional clubs via his stable, many have made their way to Cobham.

Conlon told Confidential: ‘Pareece is actually the cousin of another little superstar in Chelsea’s academy called Khalil Mitchell, who went viral two years ago when he performed a rainbow flick at a tournament abroad. It got 64million views on our TikTok in a month.

‘I don’t think I have ever worked with a player with as much flair as Pareece. I remember one time, we got the other children to sit down after a training session and watch him freestyle. They were awestruck by him.

‘His dad is a really good guy as well – his approach is for Pareece to enjoy his football and keep the creative side to his game, no matter what.’

Which is great to hear, because we don’t only want robots entering our game. There is nothing wrong with a little individuality, like we see from Michael Olise, the maverick who is now with Bayern Munich but was coached by Conlon in his formative years.

Given his age, Confidential gratefully received permission from the Hull family prior to publishing this item, and we wish him the best for the future.

Brentford’s headstart on Palmer’s fitness

You can hardly blame Chelsea for staying shtum on Cole Palmer’s fitness, with the lack of leaks leaving Tottenham guessing as to whether he will be fit to face them on April 3.

Yet while Ange Postecoglou is in the dark, Chelsea’s next opponents on April 6 are seemingly blessed with inside information which their analysts can work with.

That is Thomas Frank’s Brentford, whose first-team coach Justin Cochrane is on Thomas Tuchel’s England staff and was therefore privy to the internal updates on his international availability.

Palmer never made it to camp for the World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia, and Tuchel told us that they had to wait ‘quite a while’ for feedback.

You and us both, Thomas. What England were told exactly, we do not know, but the suspicion is the Bees may be buzzing with their headstart on everyone else.

Family ties for another Cobham winning cohort 

Chelsea won the Premier League Under 15 International Tournament at the weekend, defeating Leicester 2-1, Liverpool 1-0, Athletic Bilbao 3-0, Arsenal 1-0 in the semi-finals and Manchester City 1-0 in the final to be crowned champions out of the 12 competing teams.

Reggie Watson won the award for the tournament’s best player and he is the son of Ben Watson, the former Crystal Palace, Wigan, Nottingham Forest and Charlton midfielder.

Young Reggie was previously with Palace’s academy before he joined Chelsea, and the schoolboy made his Under 21 debut for the Blues in January despite only being 15.

Makes you think…

Sorry to spoil the fun for the conspiracists, but the Reece James interview which was uploaded to ITV Football’s social media feed last week and then mysteriously deleted had nothing to do with Chelsea’s captain describing Tuchel as the best manager he had ever worked with.

Nor that it was awkward for his current coach Enzo Maresca, or inconvenient for the owners who sacked the German who won the Champions League.

The real reason is far more boring. There was a mix-up with the embargo set for that interview’s release, hence why it needed removing last Wednesday. Don’t worry, ITV, we’ve all been there.

The chat with James was then used in a package about Tuchel prior to the Albania game on the Friday, as originally planned.

Agent suspended

Kailash Morjaria is the head of sports partnerships at the Paul Canoville Foundation, founded by Chelsea’s first black footballer. Their mission is to become the authority on improving equality and diversity outcomes for organisations across England.

Morjaria is also a registered football agent and CEO of Inner Circle Sports Management, though he is now serving a three-month FA suspension.

They had charged him with entering into a representation agreement with a minor without first obtaining additional authorisation to do so.

While described as a genuine oversight on his part, Morjaria accepted his mistake, and will be allowed to resume intermediary work in June.

CPO critics need to get a share

Friendly reminder: Chelsea Pitch Owners is a non-profit organisation which was created to ensure that football continues to be played at Stamford Bridge by a team called Chelsea FC.

Friendly reminder: the CPO shareholders I know say they would love an upgraded home that matches their high ambitions, so long as it is in the best interests of the club and its fanbase.

Friendly reminder: CPO have never had a proposal put to them by Chelsea’s current ownership and so have not yet had the chance to vote on any stadium plans.

When Todd Boehly spoke again this week on the future of Stamford Bridge, you knew there would be criticism of CPO on social media.

Personally, I believe those critics should consider purchasing a share for themselves. That way, when the time finally arrives that there is something to vote on, they can have their say, fair and square, alongside everyone else.

CPO cannot come to a decision unless the club says it is time for them to make one. It isn’t on them that Chelsea are lagging behind in the super-stadium race.

Boehly and Co arrived in May 2022 and the three-year anniversary of that takeover is near. Word is we may hear more in the coming months on their intentions.

Famous CPO shareholders include former managers Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and now-England boss Thomas Tuchel.

I’m told Enzo Maresca has not yet been gifted a share. Given Mauricio Pochettino received his in April 2024 and left a month later, you could understand why Maresca is being given a smidgen more time.

Still, the 45-year-old Italian could buy one for himself at a starting cost of £100, and so can you if you would like a say in what happens next with Stamford Bridge.

Battle of BlueCo, anyone?

In 2025, Chelsea have picked up 14 points under Maresca in the Premier League, while their sister club Strasbourg have secured 26 under Liam Rosenior in Ligue 1.

Just for kicks, Confidential asked AI to tell us who would win if they played in a one-off match. The Battle of BlueCo, if you will.

After a 500-word analysis, the bot summarised: ‘Chelsea would likely be favoured due to their deeper squad, higher-calibre players, and experience in top-tier competition.

‘However, Strasbourg’s current form and home advantage (if applicable) could make it closer than expected, potentially resulting in a competitive scoreline like 2-1 or 3-2 in Chelsea’s favour.

‘An upset isn’t out of the question, especially if Strasbourg capitalise on Chelsea’s defensive errors, but the probability leans toward Chelsea emerging victorious based on overall quality and pedigree.’

Suppose there is only one way to know for sure – get that pre-season friendly in the calendar.