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The Chelsea academy has been one of the best in Europe in recent years, with the club's youth teams challenging for trophies in both England and Europe. It has produced a lot of talent in the last decade.
Chelsea's academy grew in stature after Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003. But it wasn't until the last decade or so that the academy started to produce some really promising players.
The club is infamous for sending talented youngsters out on loan before selling them without giving them an opportunity to make the first team. Only a few of these youngsters have gone on to succeed at the club or elsewhere in Europe. Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Nathan Ake are some of the names that come to mind in this regard.
On that note, here's a look at the top five Chelsea graduates in the last decade. Without further ado, let's get started:
#5 Ryan Bertrand
Ryan Bertrand famously made his debut in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, becoming the first player to make his competition debut in the final. But things didn't quite work out for the Chelsea academy graduate at the club after that.
Bertrand had joined the Chelsea academy at the age of 15 and went on to feature 57 times for the Blues. He was one of the very few players from the Chelsea academy who got more than a sniff of first-team action.
The pinnacle of his Chelsea career was certainly that night in Munich, where he surprisingly started as a defensive left wing in an injury-hit team, keeping the likes of Arjen Robben at bay during his 73 minutes on the pitch. His performance helped Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties to clinch their maiden Champions League title.
Bertrand went on to make 38 appearances the next season as Chelsea secured the Europa League trophy as well.
But the arrival of Jose Mourinho put a halt to Bertrand's Chelsea career. He was deemed surplus to requirements by the Portuguese and was subsequently sent on loan to Aston Villa before he joined Southampton on a permanent deal in 2014.
The Chelsea academy graduate became one of the finest Premier League full-backs on the South Coast, making 240 appearances for the Saints. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2014-15 campaign.
The 32-year-old has now joined Leicester City on a free transfer, ending his stay at Southampton after seven seasons.
#4 Nathan Ake
Nathan Ake joined Chelsea's academy in 2011 from Feyenoord at the age of 15. He was subsequently developed by the academy, also helping the club's youth teams to an FA Cup and Under-21 Premier League title.
Chelsea's interim boss Rafael Benitez handed Ake his senior debut at the age of 17, when he was brought on for a late cameo against Norwich City in 2012. Benitez also handed Ake starts in the League Cup, the Europa League and on the final day of the 2012-13 season.
But again, as it happened with Bertrand, Mourinho's arrival meant the Chelsea academy graduate was sparingly used. He was sent on a short loan to Reading in 2015 before going on his first full loan the next season to Watford.
He was sent on loan again to Bournemouth the next season, where he impressed and became a key member of the starting XI. That was enough to earn him a recall in January, but he was again used sparingly by the then Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
Ake was permanently sold to Bournemouth in 2017 for £20 million, where he once again became an integral part of the side. The former Chelsea academy graduate made 109 appearances for the Cherries before moving to Manchester City in the summer of 2020 for a reported fee of £41 million.
The Dutch international has had an injury-hit first season at City, falling down the pecking order, which has led to speculation about his future being away from the club.
#3 Reece James
Reece James is one of several highly promising players to come through the Chelsea academy. He has enjoyed a rise to prominence following a successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic in the 2018-19 Championship.
James was brought into the first team set-up by former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, who promoted several players from the club's academy into the senior team.
James has continued to start under Thomas Tuchel and has become a key player at Stamford Bridge in the past two seasons. He has made 84 appearances across all competitions and helped Chelsea win last season's Champions League title.
The rise of Reece James in the past two years has been nothing short of extraordinary. Still only 21, the Chelsea academy graduate will hope to be an integral part of both club and country in the future.
#2 Andreas Christensen
Andreas Christensen’s rollercoaster of a Chelsea career began way back in 2012 as a teenager when he joined the Chelsea academy. The 25-year-old has become a key player under Thomas Tuchel after being down the pecking order under other managers.
Christensen joined Chelsea from Brondby in 2012 at the age of 16. Since then. the defender has won the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League with the club's academy before spending two years on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach.
Christensen returned to Chelsea in 2017 and soon became an integral part of Antonio Conte's side. He played 40 games that season, helping the Blues win the FA Cup.
He was used in a bit-part role by Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard, but the arrival of Thomas Tuchel saw Christensen get more game time. He was the first-choice centre-back replacement whenever Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva or Cesar Azpilicueta got injured.
Christensen continued to step in whenever required, most notably in the Champions League final against Manchester City, when he came on for the injured Thiago Silva and put on a strong display. He also had a brilliant Euro 2020 campaign with Denmark, helping them reach the semi-finals, where they lost to England in extra time.
Still only 25, the Chelsea academy graduate has many years ahead of him. With the likes of Silva and Azpilicueta nearing their late and mid-30s, Chelsea would require someone to provide continuity and experience in defence. Christensen possesses all those qualities, so the Blues will hope he can be a rock in their backline for years to come.
#1 Mason Mount
Recently named Chelsea's Player of the Year, Mason Mount is slowly rising to superstardom, and it is not at all surprising. Earlier in 2020, Lionel Messi had named Mount as one of the world's most exciting young stars. As of now, it looks like the Argentine was spot on about the young English phenomenon.
Mount started training at the Chelsea academy at the age of six and has risen through the ranks at the club to make the first team. He won the UEFA Youth League and the FA Youth Cup with the academy team and also set up England's winner in the U-19 European Championship final.
His impressive performances earned him a loan move to Vitesse Arnhem 2017 in Holland. Mount scored 14 goals, which helped Vitesse qualify for the Europa League the next season.
In 2018, the Chelsea academy graduate was sent on loan to Derby County in the Championship, where he was managed by Lampard and his former youth coach Jody Morris. Mount was an integral part of the team, registered 16 goals and assists as the Rams fell 90 minutes short of promotion to the Premier League.
Mount started the 2019-20 season with Chelsea's senior team under Frank Lampard. The Chelsea academy graduate was a consistent player for the team, making more than 50 appearances in his debut season and helping the Blues secure a top-four finish and also reach the FA Cup final.
Mason Mount continued his impressive performances the next season, finishing the campaign with 21 goals and assists while also setting up the winner for Kai Havertz in the Champions League final.
The 22-year-old certainly has a bright future ahead.
