Chelsea secured the future of one of their brightest young talents by handing a new five-and-a-half-year contract to right-back Reece James.
The 20-year-old s breakthrough into Frank Lampard s first team this season is one of several success stories among a richly gifted crop of homegrown academy graduates at Stamford Bridge.
Full international honours are next on the agenda for England Under-21 defender James, with the experiences of his esteemed team-mates suggesting caps might not be too far away.
Even if the decision to give youth its head was in part informed by Chelsea s player registration ban during the previous transfer window, the success of his young stars means Lampard s faith has unquestionably been vindicated.
A Blue since the age of eight s Chelsea story continues!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Tammy Abraham
Given his chance after a prolific loan spell at Aston Villa last season, Abraham is now firmly established as Chelsea s number one striker. The 22-year-old has 15 goals in all competitions this campaign and the recent injury setback for Harry Kane means he could yet be a pivotal figure for his country at Euro 2020. Talks over a new Chelsea deal reportedly remain ongoing.
Mason Mount
A creative midfielder with an eye for goal, Mount quickly felt like a perfect match for Lampard who took him on loan to Derby County for 2018-19 before the pair reunited at Chelsea. His transition to the Premier League has been seamless, with the 21-year-old featuring in all 22 games this season and chipping in with five goals and a pair of assists. Mount also appeared in all six of England s Euro 2020 qualifiers this term, scoring during a 4-0 win in Kosovo.
Top bins
— Mason Mount (@masonmount_10)
Fikayo Tomori
A classy and dominant centre-back, Tomori has taken the same path as Mount: a move on loan to Derby, where he was voted player of the season, back to Chelsea, into the first team and called up by England. Back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and West Ham concluded 11 consecutive Premier League starts for the 22-year-old, who then suffered a hip injury. A fit-again Antonio Rudiger and Lampard s willingness to switch between three and four at the back means a challenging second half of the campaign could lie in wait for Tomori, who signed a contract until the end of 2023-24 in December.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
The lavishly gifted winger made his international breakthrough last season despite Maurizio Sarri s reluctance to give him Premier League minutes. Before returning from a ruptured Achilles, Hudson-Odoi committed to a new five-year contract in September, putting lingering links with Bayern Munich to bed. His first goal in the top-flight against Burnley last time out suggested the 19-year-old could be ready for lift-off all over again.
Great performance from the boys but also amazing support!! Happy to get another goal as well
— Callum Hudson-Odoi (@Calteck10)
Reece James
Like Hudson-Odoi, James also had to wait for his chance this season after recuperating from injury. Last season s player of the year at Wigan Athletic now boasts 18 senior appearances and a couple of goals – his equaliser in November s scarcely credible 4-4 draw against Ajax one that will live long in the memory. The 20-year-old s attacking prowess and vicious deliveries from the right flank have given Lampard s men a new dimension in recent weeks.
