Academy: A New Arrival and Lots Of Goals

There was plenty going on this week at the Chelsea academy, lots of game action to catch up on and there was even a surprise in store that no one saw coming.

The U18's kicked the week off with a friendly against Stevanage which was played at Cobham. It turned out to be a hard game for the young blues but they managed to come away still with a 3 - 2 win. Chelsea's goals coming from Nias Butungu, Anjur Osmanovic and George Cole. This continued a winning pre season so far for the U18's and there would be more to come.

On the same day the U21's also took part in some pre season friendly action this time away to Colwyn Bay. As has been the case so far this pre season the goals were flowing and the game ended in 5 - 1 win for Dermot Drummy's men. 2 goals for both new signing Izzy Brown and John Swift and another goal for in form Alex Kiwomya sealed the win. The U21's have shown that they are able to mix things up in these pre season games against first team opposition albeit at a low level. It will put them in good shape for the coming season playing against much more physically imposing players.

The U21's then followed that up with a game on Tuesday evening against Ilkeston and they managed to replicate the 5 - 1 scoreline once again. There were 5 different goalscorers this time, Alex Kiwomya, Lewis Baker, Ulises Davilla, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and John Swift all hit the back of the net. Kiwomya and Swift are both having impressive goalscoring pre seasons. Loftus-Cheek from all reports seems to be excelling this pre season and really setting a marker down for the season, this on the back of a decent showing for the first team in the US against Manchester City at the end of last season.

There was a second game also this week for the U18's as pre season moves ever closer to being over and the new season starting. This the opposition was Derby County at Cobham. Once again there was a win, this time 3 - 1 to Chelsea. Anjur Osmanovic and George Cole were both again on the scoresheet as well as Tammy Abraham.

It's not very often that new arrivals at Chelsea go completely under the radar and turn up at Chelsea, it happened earlier in the summer with the arrival of Schwarzer and it happened again this week when Chelsea announced the signing of 18 year old Croatian striker Stipe Perica. I have to admit to knowing nothing about the new arrival but it will be interesting to see what Chelsea do with him. Is he a player that will be utilized in the U21's this season? Or will he be a player we see loaned out in Europe and let him develop there until he is ready for the Chelsea.

There has not been any new loan moves this week but we have seen the start of game action for our loan stars as Thorgan Hazard's league and European campaigns got started with Zulte Waregam he started both games against Lierse and PSV Eindhoven bagging a goal and an assist against Lierse. With the start of  the football league this week the majority of our loan boys will start their season proper. Meanwhile both Josh McEachran and Lucas Piazon have been linked with loan moves Piazon to our friends at Vitesse Arnhem and McEachran to Spanish club Real Sociedad, neither of which has been confirmed.

Coming up this week the U18's are in Friendly action at Cobham today against Bristol City and the U21's are away to Wealdstone. The U21's then play again on Tuesday against Hendon before they start their league campaign against Tottenham at Aldershot which will be live on Chelsea TV. The U18's are also scheduled to compete in a 3 day tournament at White Hart Lane.

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Carefree & KTBFFH!