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These days you can catch him at Reading

Where are they now? The 11 academy kids Chelsea released in 2014 a decade later

Ben Stewart •

Chelsea have invested heavily in their academy over the last few decades, although not all of their youngsters manage to make the grade at Stamford Bridge.

While Chelsea have produced some gems over the years, the majority of academy players never manage to make a senior appearance for the club.

We’ve wound back the clocks to 2014 and have checked out the 11 academy kids that Chelsea released that year and where they are a decade later.

Jhon Pirez

The Uruguayan forward spent a total of six years on the books at Chelsea, but he never got his chance in the senior squad. He spent a few years out on loan in Uruguay and Spain before he was eventually released in 2014.

After a short stint with Getafe B, he spent the majority of his post-Chelsea career playing outside of Europe. Following relatively short spells in Uruguay and the United States, he called it quits on his football career in 2018.

Sam Hutchinson

Unlike the majority of players on this list, Hutchinson did manage a handful of senior appearances for Chelsea before he was let go in 2014.

The holding midfielder is a household name to any EFL fan as he spent his best days playing for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. At his best, he was a cracking player in the second tier, although injuries have often hampered his career.

Now 34 years old, Hutchinson is still going strong today for Reading in League One.

Jordan Beeney

Upon his release from Chelsea, the goalkeeper was snapped up by Charlton Athletic. Beeney then spent the next four years in the Charlton academy before he was released in 2018.

Since being let go by the EFL club, the shot-stopper hasn’t played professional football

Ambrose Gnahore

Throughout his post-Chelsea career, Gnahore has rarely stuck around in one place for long. The full-back has played for 10 different clubs since leaving Chelsea and he is currently on the free agents market.

Gnahore has predominately played lower-league football in countries such as Spain, Portugal, England and France. He most recently played for FC Alberes Argeles who compete in the French fifth tier.

Chike Kandi

Since being let go by Chelsea in 2014, Kandi has played for 11 different clubs. The forward now plays for Kingstonian FC who compete in the seventh tier of English football.

Milan Lalkovic

Like many of the other players on this list, Lalkovic has also been quite the journeyman since leaving Chelsea. After leaving Chelsea he enjoyed short stints with Barnsley, Walsall and Portsmouth before he started to move around Europe.

Having played for a total of 15th clubs throughout his career so far, the winger is currently playing in Greece. You can now catch him playing for PAS Korinthos who compete in the Greek third tier.

Isak Ssewankambo

Ssewankambo was released shortly after Chelsea’s triumph in the 2014 FA Youth Cup. The midfielder came on as a second half substitute, replacing Kasey Palmer in that game.

During his post-Chelsea career, the 27-year-old has had stints in the Netherlands, Norway and now Sweden. You can currently catch him playing for Norrkoping in the Allsvenskan.

It’s fair to say that the Chelsea 2014 FA Youth Cup squad was packed with talent.

AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

READ: Where are they now? Chelsea’s XI of future stars from the 2014 FA Youth Cup final

Daniel Pappoe

Quite incredibly, Pappoe is now onto the 16th club of his career. He’s rarely settled in one place for long and currently turns out for non-league outfit Chipstead who compete in the Isthmian League.

George Cole

Upon his release from Chelsea, the attacking midfielder was picked up by the Brighton academy. Cole spent one season playing with the Brighton U21s before he found himself looking for a club once again.

After a short stint playing in non-league for the likes of Braintree and Heybridge Swift, he seems to have left football behind as he has been without a club since 2017.

Billy Clifford

After leaving Chelsea, Clifford spent the following four years playing in the EFL for Walsall and Crawley Town. After racking up 74 EFL appearances, he then dropped down to non-league football in 2018.

Now 31 years old, Clifford now plays for Ebbsfleet United who sit 21st in the National League.

Adam Nditi

Nditi joined Fleetwood Town upon his release from Chelsea, but he only stuck around for one year with the League One outfit. After leaving Fleetwood, Nditi has spent the rest of his career playing in non-league.

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