Hassan Sulaiman continues to take charge of our Under-18s following an impressive 2023/24 season, which ended with his side being crowned Under-18 Premier League southern champions.

All 11 of our new scholars have already experienced Under-18s football at Chelsea, and one made his debut for the Under-21s during the previous campaign.

Last season gave these new scholars a taste of lifting silverware. Not only did they contribute to the Under-18s' title triumph, but many of the scholars were involved in our Under-17 Premier League Cup and Under-16 Premier League National Tournament victories.

Before the new campaign gets under way, players are required to start on a scholarship agreement as they graduate to full-time football, before signing their first professional contracts on or after their 17th birthday.

And after the players signed their required paperwork, we caught up with our Academy coaches to get to know the new group better…

Harry McGlinchey

A strong attacking left-back, Harry joined us from Plymouth Argyle in his Under-14s season. He has consistently shown a winning mentality and pushed himself to achieve higher standards throughout training and fixtures. Harry’s leadership qualities and performances earned him an appearance for the Republic of Ireland Under-17s during the European Championship. In the latter stages of the 2023/24 campaign, he made his Chelsea Under-18s debut away against Arsenal.

Harry Rodda

Harry signed for the Blues after a successful trial from grassroots club Wimborne Town during the 2022/23 season. Originally a central midfielder, he transitioned to right-back and impressed with his quick ability to adjust and adapt to situations. He has an impressive work ethic and commitment to the club, which led to his Under-18s debut against Arsenal last season.

Hudson Sands

Hudson is a goalkeeper signed at the beginning of his Under-8s season from our pre-Academy development programme. He is a technically gifted player who impresses with his agility and distribution with his feet. He was a consistent performer throughout the Under-16 Premier League National Tournament, which ended with Chelsea victorious. Sands also featured for our Under-18s in April against Leicester and kept a clean sheet.

Jack Austin

Signed as an Under-14 after a spell at Cambridge United, Jack has been an influential goalkeeper at Under-16s and Under-17s levels. He has displayed overall progress in his performance, particularly through his excellent low dives and sweep saves. Austin has impressed in both his leadership and progression, which earned him three appearances for the Under-18s last season.

Joseph Wheeler-Henry

A right-sided defender who joined us through our Integration Recruitment Centre in his Under-13s season, after a successful trial. Joseph has demonstrated his physical attributes and immense speed – and has elevated his levels of tactical intelligence, understanding more about his surroundings and marking his opponents. Last season, he was involved in the Under-17 Premier League Cup and made his Under-18s debut against Reading.

Kobe Barbour

A fast-paced and direct winger, Kobe signed for Chelsea at Under-8s level and continues to impress and excel on and off the pitch. One of his strengths is his ability in one-on-one scenarios, especially in the attacking third. During the 2023/24 campaign, he was heavily involved in our victories in the Under-16 Premier League National Tournament and the Under-17 Premier League Cup.

Landon Emenalo

Landon is a composed, creative and knowledgeable midfielder who initially signed as an Under-8, before relocating to Monaco and then returning to Cobham as an Under-13. He notably thrives under pressure and in intense situations, which has earned him call-ups for England and USA international training camps. Emenalo has quickly impressed and made his Under-21s debut against Colchester United in last season’s Premier League Cup.

Olutayo Subuloye

Olutayo officially signed for Chelsea at Under-12s after a spell at Brighton & Hove Albion. He is a talented defender who is comfortable playing across various positions and adapts well to any intense situation. He played a key role at the Under-16 Premier League National Tournament, captaining the side to victory, along with consistently playing in the Under-17 Premier League Cup competition. During his Under-16s season, Subuloye made four appearances for Sulaiman’s squad and had an impact on each opportunity.

Shumaira Mheuka

An exciting and talented player, Shumaira joined at the end of his Under-14s season from Brighton. He is a confident centre-forward who naturally finds the back of the net and assists goals. Mheuka appeared regularly in Sulaiman’s squad last season, scoring nine goals in 16 matches for our Under-18s. He made his first Stamford Bridge appearance in the Under-18 Premier League National Final against Manchester United and has had a significant influence while on international duty with England Under-17s, proving himself a key player throughout this summer’s European Championship and scoring their opener against Spain.

Sol Gordon

Sol is another scholar who came through our development centre programme from the age of eight. The midfielder is known for his positive, outgoing and confident character around the training ground. He is adaptable, capable of switching midfield roles, and assertive in front of goal. Last season, Gordon scored 19 goals and assisted seven across the Under-16s and Under-17s, which resulted in him making two appearances for the Under-18s.

Yahya Idrissi

Yahya is a confident central attacking midfielder who signed from West Ham United in his Under-12s season. He enjoys dribbling, sprinting into open spaces and getting into goal-scoring positions, while continuing to impress with his ability to take on multiple attacking roles. During his Under-16s season, he netted 19 goals and provided 14 assists. Idrissi is frequently called up to represent Morocco at Under-17s and Under-18s levels and last season made four appearances for our Under-18s, scoring one goal against West Bromwich Albion.

Congratulations to all our new scholars!