They have received plenty of criticism for it, but Chelsea have signed some extraordinary young talents in recent seasons.
For example, despite still being just 18 years old, Estevao has been a revelation for Enzo Maresca’s side this season.
The young Brazilian has already scored five goals and provided one assist in just 843 minutes, and looks like he could be something truly special.
So, fans should be ecstatic that Chelsea have now signed another highly rated wonderkid who’s been compared not only to Estevao but also to Moises Caicedo.
How Chelsea are repeating their Estevao success
As if Estevao’s doing what he’s doing this season wasn’t already enough, Chelsea fans will have a few more wonderkids making their way to the club in the summer.
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Perhaps the pick of the bunch, and the one who feels most ready to have an impact akin to the Brazilians, is Geovany Quenda.
The Blues paid a whopping £44m for the Portuguese gem back in March, and while that’s a lot of money to spend on someone who is still just 18, he already looks value for money.
For example, in 22 first-team appearances this season, totalling 1273 minutes, the dynamic winger has scored five goals and provided eight assists.
In other words, the “relentless” teenage sensation, as dubbed by Mattinson, is averaging a goal involvement every 1.69 games, or every 97.92 minutes.
Appearances
22
Starts
12
Minutes
1273′
Goals
5
Assists
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.59
Minutes per Goal Involvement
97.92′
Points per Game
2.32
Another wonderkid who’ll be making their way back to Stamford Bridge in the summer alongside Quenda is Kendry Páez.
The Ecuadorian midfielder is currently on loan with RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 and, despite being just 18 years old, is making quite an impression.
In all, he has made 17 first-team appearances for the French outfit and was named young player of the month for September.
Perhaps even more impressive than his club record, the teenage star has also already won 23 caps for Ecuador and will undoubtedly play a role for them at the upcoming World Cup.
The conveyor belt of young talent is going to stop next year though, as BlueCo have now got their hands on another incredible prospect who has been compared to Estevao and Caicedo.
Chelsea's next wonderkid
It was announced on Wednesday that the consortium that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg, BlueCo, had agreed to sign Burkina Faso youngster Mohamed Zongo.
The 16-year-old will join the French club once he is 18, and according to the report, so long as he performs well, he will likely then move to the Blues at a later date.
While this isn’t a story that is going to get the fans all that excited, it is another example of the West Londoners’ owners being proactive and seeking out the best young talent in the world, which is a category Zongo most definitely belongs in.
For example, respected scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him “one of the most exciting U17 talents in Africa.”
On top of that, U23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as a “magic” talent who has “incredible vision” and “ability to open up the game from all angles and areas.”
Something else that should excite the Stamford Bridge faithful is that he appears to be reasonably versatile, playing as both an attacking midfielder and a right-winger.
Interestingly, journalist and Chelsea writer Lloyd Canfield made a bold statement that the youngster “plays like a unique mix of Estevao and Moises Caicedo.”
The comparison to the Brazilian feels rather straightforward given the 16-year-old’s position and skillset.
However, when it comes to the Ecuadorian, Canfield argues that it’s his ability to shoot from range and control possession in the middle of the park that makes the comparison reasonable.
Ultimately, it’s going to be a while before fans can get a proper look at him, but if what those in the know say is true, BlueCo and, potentially, Chelsea have a real star on their hands.
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