There could be as many as five senior debuts for Chelsea in the city of Almaty on Thursday, with a quarter of the 20 players who have already arrived yet to feature for the Blues’ first team. No less than half of the traveling team are still teenagers, with the youngest having just turned 17.

Let’s get to know her better…

Josh Acheampong

The tall defender played at centre-back, right-back and full-back in our academy and has represented England at all levels from U16 to U20.

Last season with the U21 team, Acheampong played a key role in our U18 South Premier League title win and made his senior debut as a substitute in our home Premier League win over Tottenham.

He most recently traveled with the senior team for pre-season last summer and played again for the men’s team when we beat Barrow in the Carabao Cup.

Ato Ampah

The 18-year-old poses a threat on both wings and can easily cut inside or hit the baseline to create opportunities for his teammates. After playing for our U18 team for two seasons in a row, he missed a large portion of last season due to injury.

However, when Ampah returned, he was one of the stars of our journey to the U18 Premier League Southern title, scoring a goal in a 2-1 win at Southampton that secured us the trophy. He also scored in our U21 team’s first game of the season against Tottenham after being promoted to the higher age group.

Kiano Dyer

After joining the Blues as an under-14 player from West Bromwich Albion, Dyer always played above his age group. The lively midfield playmaker played regularly for our U18 team as a student in 2022/23 and was promoted straight to the U21 team when he played full-time at the end of that season.

Despite only turning 18 last month, he remains almost ever-present at this level and has been an unused substitute for the men’s team on six occasions, most recently in the victories over Gent and Heidenheim in our Conference League season.

Tyrique George

The 18-year-old has become an integral part of the squad for away games in Europe this season and has made more senior appearances than any other Chelsea Academy player in the 2024/25 season.

After playing a key role in our U18 Premier League Southern title and coming on three times as a substitute for the men last season, the winger made his debut in the Conference League qualifying play-off away to Servette senior national team.

George now has five appearances as a substitute in the Conference League and Carabao Cup and made his full debut in the 8-0 home win against Noah.

Max Merrick

The goalkeeper was something of a latecomer and came to the Chelsea Academy from grassroots football after a successful trial at U13 level. He had a strong presence in his penalty area, coming off the line with ease and playing with the ball at his feet. He spent some time on loan in non-league with Hanwell.

Merrick’s first senior involvement came in 2023/24 as an unused substitute in an FA Cup game against Aston Villa and he has established himself as our under-21s’ first choice this season.

Shumaira Mheuka

The youngest member of our academy in Kazakhstan, Mheuka only turned 17 in October and is in his first season as a full-time footballer.

The strong striker became an important member of our U18 squad as a student last season and scored twelve goals in 20 appearances before becoming a regular player in our U21 team this season. He previously sat on the bench for the senior national team’s European away games at Panathinaikos and Heidenheim.

Harrison Murray Campbell

Murray-Campbell is an 18-year-old defender who has been deployed in the back four by our academy. His only senior appearance came last season when he was unused in the 3-2 home win against Leeds United in the FA Cup fifth round.

Harrison played well from the back with both feet and featured more than any other player in last season’s U18 Premier League Southern title win, before moving full-time to the U21 side for the 2024/25 season.

Richard Olise

London-based Olise, the younger brother of France international Michael, is a modern full-back and full-back who likes to take part in the attack, usually on the right.

After having to take a long break in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the 20-year-old is fully fit again for the current season and has developed into an increasingly important figure in Filipe Coelho’s U21 team. including a memorable first goal at this level in a 6-0 win over Fulham.

Samuel Rak Sakyi

Rak-Sakyi, another Londoner, has been with the Blues since he was eight years old. He became an important part of our U18 team in the 2022/23 season, but the following two seasons were interrupted by injuries despite some impressive performances when available.

However, the 19-year-old has shone for the U21 team since his return this year, appearing twice as a substitute in the Conference League wins against Noah and Heidenheim.

Harvey Vale

The most experienced member of the Academy group traveling to Kazakhstan, Vale returned to Cobham this season to captain the Under-21s after loan spells at Hull City and Bristol Rovers.

The 21-year-old is a versatile player who played as a striker, midfielder and full-back in the 2024/25 season. He is our second highest goalscorer at this level and his excellent set pieces have brought goals to his teammates, contributing to four assists in Premier League 2.

Vale’s senior Chelsea debut came as a starter in the 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Brentford in December 2021 and he has made a further four appearances as a substitute in the knockout competitions this season.

Kaiden Wilson

Wilson, who is originally from Bristol, also came from grassroots football and joined Chelsea as an U14 player. As a centre-back and right-back, he was a breakthrough player in our U18 team in 2022/23 and played a key role in winning the U18 Premier League Southern title last season.

He was also promoted to the under-21 team in 2023/24 before joining the squad full-time this season. Only one player has made more than Kaiden’s 14 starts in all competitions for our U21 side so far this season.