Chelsea: more players trained at Manchester City than at Cobham in
By OnzeActu · · 5 min read
Chelsea's future squad for the 2026-27 season could include more players from Manchester City's academy than from its own historic formation at Cobham. This trend is illustrated by the recent signings and the massive presence of former City players and executives in the Blues organization.
According to Sports.
Context
Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Romeo Lavia, Jamie Gittens and Tosin Adarabioyo, all from the Manchester City academy, represent a new era for Chelsea. With a cumulative investment of almost €300 million in transfer fees, these players could transform the face of the team and redefine expectations for the 2026-27 season.
Why it matters
Chelsea's current trend of signing Manchester City-trained players highlights a major strategic shift within the club. This could have a significant impact on the team's dynamics and their ability to compete at the top of the Premier League table. By integrating these talents, Chelsea hopes to strengthen its squad while relying on players who have already proven themselves in high-level competitions.
Key points
- Chelsea: more players trained at Manchester City than at Cobham.
- Chelsea's future squad for the 2026-27 season could include more players from Manchester City's academy than from its own historic formation at Cobham.
- The Chelsea-Man City link - Yahoo Sports.
The 2020 FA Youth Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City, won 3-2 by the Citizens, had already given a glimpse of the future for Chelsea. Six years later, this meeting takes on a new dimension as the 2026-27 season could see the Blues first team have twice as many players trained at Manchester City as at Cobham, Chelsea's historic training center.
The latest major acquisition from City is Morgan Rogers, the club's transfer record with £117 million, scorer of a goal against Chelsea U18 during that famous 2020 final. Rogers joins Cole Palmer, also trained at Manchester City and scorer that evening, as well as Liam Delap, the Cityzens' third scorer.
Furthermore, the Chelsea locker room also includes Romeo Lavia, Jamie Gittens and Tosin Adarabioyo, all of whom passed through the Mancunian academy. These six players combined represent a cumulative value of almost €300 million in transfer fees since 2023, illustrating the London club's considerable investment in talent from the rival club.
In comparison, only a handful of Cobham-trained players are normally scheduled for next season: Levi Colwill, Reece James and Josh Acheampong. Trevoh Chalobah, although still linked to Chelsea, is in advanced discussions for a departure to Serie A and the Como club.
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This strategy builds largely on the success of Cole Palmer, whose £40m plus £2.5m bonus move in 2023 was a winning move for Chelsea. He quickly became one of the Premier League's revelation players, proving the value of young talent coming from Manchester.
Additionally, several current Chelsea executives and employees have close ties to Manchester City, making trades and transfers easier. Former City scout Joe Shields is now responsible for youth and senior recruitment at Chelsea. The technical staff has also been expanded with former City players such as assistant coach Calum McFarlane and Glenn van der Kraan, promoted to academy director. Other figures like executive Tom Glick, former president of business at Chelsea, and former head coach Enzo Maresca also come from the Etihad club.
Before Palmer's arrival, Chelsea were already following several young talents trained at City, such as Michael Olise, recently transferred to Bayern Munich, or Nico O'Reilly, a defender targeted by the Blues.
This clear Mancunian influence in the recruitment and training of Chelsea illustrates a new dynamic within the club, which could well see more players trained at Manchester City playing in the blue jersey than those coming from its own academy in the seasons to come.
The rest
As the 2026-27 season approaches, Chelsea will need to assess the integration of these new players into their playing system. The performance of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and other signings will be crucial in determining their impact on the team's results in the Premier League. At the same time, the situation of Trevoh Chalobah, in discussions for a transfer to Como, could also influence the composition of the squad and the depth of the bench for the coming season.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score of the 2020 FA Youth Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City?
The score of the 2020 FA Youth Cup final was 3-2 in favor of Manchester City.
How many players trained at Manchester City are in the Chelsea squad for the 2026-27 season?
For the 2026-27 season, Chelsea could have twice as many players trained at Manchester City as players trained at Cobham.
Which Cobham-trained players are planned for next season at Chelsea?
Cobham-trained players slated for next season at Chelsea are Levi Colwill, Reece James and Josh Acheampong.
What an impact
Did the acquisition of Morgan Rogers join the Chelsea squad?
Morgan Rogers is Chelsea's latest major acquisition from Manchester City, representing a transfer record for the club.
What is Chelsea's next match?
The article does not mention the next Chelsea match.
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