Chelsea's Rising Stars

Chelsea Starlet Jeffrey Bruma

The summer transfer window for Chelsea has been pretty quiet to date, with only Yossi Benayoun signing, though he is expected to be joined by Ramires from Benfica, pending a work permit. For a club losing Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Deco and Joe Cole you would begin to think that Chelsea's hopes of retaining the Premiership title lies in the balance. However, Italian Carlos Ancelotti has other plans and is excited about the prospect of the clubs rising stars. Fabio Capello will be particularly pleased with the talent coming off the production line at Cobham with Joshua McEachran and Billy Cliffford appearing in the team that won the FA Youth Cup last season, along with Dutch starlet Jeffrey Bruma and all have played big roles in Chelsea's pre-season. All started in the defeat by Ajax and Bruma and McEacharan were part of the two-match tour of Germany, joined by academy graduates Patrick van Aanholt, Gaël Kakuta and Fabio Borini. New rules which came into force this season stipulate that each Premier league club must nominate a squad list of a maximum 25 players, eight of which must be 'home grown' players and this will place a greater emphasis on Ancelotti's youngsters.

Joshua McEachran is one English youngster expected to make the grade at Stamford Bridge. The 17-year midfielder is a regular youth international with England and played a key role as they won the Uefa U17 European Championships, scoring in the group stages against the Czech Republic and impressing against Spain in the final. Comfortable on the left or in the middle, McEachran was one of Chelsea's finest performers. in their FA Youth Cup final win against Aston Villa last season. Ancelotti is a firm admirer of McEachran who joined the club as an eight year-old and has been ever present in Chelsea' pre-season campaign. The highly rated youngster is widely tipped to become a regular first team squad member within the next year. Billy Clifford turned professional in July 2010 and is able to operate at full-back or in midfield. A key member of the FA Youth Cup team, he may not be as close to the first team as McEachran, but he is one to watch.

Gaël Kukuta's arrival at Stamford Bridge was arguably one of the club's most controversial signings in recent years after allegations of tapping up the player, leading Fifa to place a transfer ban on the club which was subsquently lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport who ruled that Kukuta did not have a valid contract with Lens. A highly-skilled left-footed player who loves taking players on, he ended the 2007/08 season by helping France to the final of the Uefa Under-17 European Championships and he also won the Academy's Scholar of the Year in his debut season. competitive football for four months by Fifa, a sanction relating to his move to Chelsea. It was suspended in November and the player made his first-team debut later that month, coming on as a substitute at home to Wolves. Kakuta made his much anticipated Premier League debut during a home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 21 November 2009 as a substitute for Nicolas Anelka, impressing with his vast array of skills, pace and enthusiasm.

At the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championships, which France hosted, Kakuta inspired his nation to victory and was awarded with the Golden Player awward for his performances at the tournament. Scoring in the opener in the 4-1 victory over the Netherlands, Kakuta also scored against Croatia in the semi-finals and provided the assist for the winner in the final against Spain. Kakuta is arguably one of football brightest prospects and looks guaranteed to make his breakthrough at Chelsea this year. Fabio Borini is an Italian striker who has already been capped at Under-21 level for Italy. Joining in the summer of 2007 from Bologna, Borini was the joint top scorer for the reserves last season as he scored 5 times in 13 games, following up his four in eight appearances the season before. A natural finisher, the Italian is already a frequent member in the Chelsea squad.

French Wonderkid Gael Kukuta

Jeffrey Bruma is an 18 year-old defender who can operate at centre-back or as right-back. A player who is well developed ahead of his year, Bruma made his debut at just 17 years of age during the 2009/10 season and made another two appearances last season. Joining the club from Dutch giants Feyenoord in 2007 he played a key part in the clubs FA Youth Cup run to the final in his debut season and is already a regular for the Netherlands at Under-21 level. Comfortable on the ball and a very good athlete, Jeffrey confirmed himself as a key member of the reserve squad two seasons ago, stepping up to the first team group under Carlo Ancelotti and has been ever present in the pre-season build up for the 2010/11 season, coming on a substitute in the Charity Shield match against Manchester United.

Another Dutch talent making headlines in the youth ranks at Chelsea is Patrick van Aanholt who is now in his fourth year at Chelsea. Arriving from PSV Eindhoven, van Aaanholt is a fast, technically accomplished defender who immediately established himself in the reserves. Mainly operating at left-back, during his time in the youth team he was a centre-back in the team that reached the FA Youth Cup final. Alongside Jeffrey Bruma, he has progressed into the Dutch Under-21 squad and is now on the fringes of the first team. Also in the youth ranks is reserve team goalkeeper Jan Sebek who joined in July 2009 after initially coming to the Blues in a trial in 2007. Having failed to settle in England, Sebek was given a second chance and the highly rated Czech youngster looks set to challenge Hillario as back-up to Petr Cech.

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