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#3 Patrick van Aanholt
Patrick van Aanholt arrived at the Chelsea academy as a 17-year-old in 2007 but made a grand total of only two appearances for the club before moving elsewhere.
The 30-year-old Dutch left-back became a journeyman for a few years before finding some stability at Sunderland, where he made 95 appearances in all competitions during a three-year stint.
A Crystal Palace player since 2016, the former Chelsea academy graduate has made a name for himself as a formidable goal-scoring defender.
Van Aanholt talked about his frustration of being away on loan spells while at Chelsea, saying that he almost wanted to quit football:
“Obviously when you go on loan from Chelsea you expect to play. I was really thinking about quitting football. I was that upset, I wanted to stop."
#2 Rhian Brewster
Rhian Brewster joined the Chelsea academy at the age of seven and honed his skills there for seven years before leaving for Liverpool in 2015.
The 20-year-old forward later opened up on his reasons for leaving Chelsea, saying that he was unsure if the club thought he was good enough to make their first team.
“I spent a lot of time thinking about that and I kept asking myself why that was. There were some unbelievable youngsters at the academy. It became clear that the problem was opportunities and that they weren’t being made available, even to guys we thought would 100 per cent move up. I thought ‘Okay I think I’m good enough, but do they actually believe I am good enough to eventually make it in the first team?’"
Brewster made his Liverpool debut last year but soon left on loan for Swansea City, for whom he impressed in the Championship, scoring ten goals in twenty league games.
The 5' 11" forward is yet to score for his new club Sheffield United, whom he joined this summer.
#1 Declan Rice
Declan Rice started out in the Chelsea academy at the tender age of six before he was released by the club eight years later, a decision that still 'shocks' the defensive midfielder, who later said in this regard:
"I had to overcome a massive disappointment of being released by Chelsea at the age of 14. That was everything I ever knew to be honest. From nine to 14, training there Monday to Friday, playing games and to get told you won't be a part of that anymore was a major shock. I never thought it would have to happen but it did."
Now at West Ham United, where he rose up the ranks to become one of the standout players for the club's first team, Rice has more than made up for his disappointment of missing out at Chelsea.
Rice is only 21 but has already made over 100 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, impressing with his ability to break up play and also scoring the odd goal.
Rice, who recently made his England debut, could reunite with his good friend and fellow Chelsea academy graduate Mason Mount at Stamford Bridge soon, as Frank Lampard is reportedly interested in the services of his younger compatriot.
