Chelsea have a proud history of developing players, so it is no surprise several good friends have progressed into the senior set-up together. Josh and Tyrique are the latest.

Sitting alongside each other at Cobham for our interview, neither can recall the exact moment they met but Josh believes they were nine. They have since progressed through each of Chelsea’s age groups together and have travelled the world with England’s youth teams.

‘Josh is a very funny guy and a top player,’ Tyrique says.

‘We have known each other for eight years and Josh has always been a good friend, even since we were young. He is a good person to speak to away from football as well. We probably speak every day.

‘Growing up we would go to training, go to the gym together, and do things like playing at Powerleague. We were always getting that work in so we could be sitting here today.’

Josh continues: ‘Tyrique has played a big part in my journey because we have come through all the age groups together and through going away with England as well. We have always been around each other.’

It is therefore fitting that so many of the major milestones in their Chelsea careers have come alongside each other.

They were both on the bench when the other came on for their Blues debuts; in May against Tottenham for Josh and away to Servette for Tyrique in August. This summer saw both join our pre-season tour to the US for the first time and just before Christmas, they were officially inducted into the first team alongside each other.

‘We were both in the changing room and they said there was a meeting and we didn’t know what it was about,’ Josh explains. ‘Then they called us up to the front to tell us we were now part of the first team!

‘It was a good moment and I didn’t really expect it. I hadn’t actually been in the first team dressing room before so to be in there at all was good and then to be inducted into the first team with Tyrique was really special.

‘My family was really proud of me and were so happy.’

Tyrique adds: ‘It was a proud moment. I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I was really happy. My mum was quite shocked when I told her and my whole family was so happy for me.’

December was a special month for both players but particularly for Josh, as he signed a new contract with the club, made his first senior start away to Astana, and then again at home to Shamrock Rovers.

The good news kept coming as we entered 2025 as Josh excelled in his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace.

‘I was quite nervous going into the game with Palace but after the first five minutes, it was like a normal game and it was fun,’ Josh says.

And with a dream-come-true moment like that, surely he couldn’t wait to tell Ty the big news ahead of Enzo Maresca releasing his starting XI?

‘No, I didn’t! Ty texted me before but I didn’t want to tell anyone, so I just aired him and texted him after,’ Josh says, laughing.

Josh received plenty of plaudits for the way he played in the heart of our defence, especially considering he is just 18 years old.

‘I was so happy for him,’ Tyrique adds. ‘It just showed all the hard work he has put in.’

It has been a great 2024/25 campaign for Tyrique too. His maiden outing against Servette was followed by a Premier League debut versus Wolves and the winger recorded his first two senior assists during our 5-0 win over Morecambe in the FA Cup.

Tyrique described coming on as a substitute against Barrow alongside Josh as ‘a special moment’ and says he is grateful to have received so many opportunities so early into his career.

Both players also consider themselves fortunate to have received such good support from their more senior team-mates.

Josh says: ‘A lot of players have helped me but I would say Reece [James], Levi [Colwill] and Tosin [Adarabioyo] have probably helped me the most.

‘On the pitch, they help me out a lot but also off the pitch, they remind me about things like going into the gym, doing the extras and making sure the standards stay high.’

As for Tyrique, he spoke of the support he has received from Noni Madueke, highlighting his advice and describing the fellow winger as ‘a good role model’.

Josh has also benefitted from the support of his role model, Chelsea legend John Terry, who works alongside youngsters in our academy.

‘It was good to have that level of experience to help us,’ Josh says. ‘JT had a lot of advice for us, both on the pitch and off the pitch.’

The benefits of training every day alongside academy graduates who play in the same position cannot be underestimated, with captain Reece James, Levi and Trevoh Chalobah all part of the Blues backline.

‘It is good they are in the squad and can give us advice because you can see how much they have grown [as players] and what it could look like for us,’ Josh says.

It was a view echoed by Tyrique, who adds: ‘It was really nice to see them in the first team when you was coming through the academy because it showed anything was possible.’

The support of head coach Enzo Maresca has also been key to the progress of both young men.

‘Enzo is really good,’ Josh says. ‘He tries to keep the standards really high and it has helped our performances on the pitch.

‘It really helps when you have a good relationship with the head coach but also the other members of the coaching staff. They are all nice and if you have any questions, they answer them and try to help you.’

‘Yeah Enzo is a really good manager,’ Tyrique adds. ‘He speaks to me, gives me advice and encourages me to work hard every day to try to get my opportunities.

‘Off the training pitch, he is a really nice person and you can speak to him about anything.’

Both players describe their accelerated progression into the first team at just 18 as ‘surreal’ but they have no plans to rest on their laurels.

When Maresca addressed the squad during Tyrique and Josh’s induction into the first team, the Italian said‘they are not to take this for granted’ and highlighted the importance of working ‘in the right way’ every single day.

‘I just want to keep working hard in training so I can impress the coaching staff and hopefully get more opportunities to show what I can do,’ Tyrique replies when asked what his hopes were for the rest of the season.

Josh adds: ‘Yeah, I’m the same. That is the goal. There is always more to do and every day there is more to work on so hopefully I can play as much as possible and earn more opportunities.’