Reggie Walsh and Thiago Silva’s son, Isago, are among the 16 Chelsea academy players to have signed as scholars ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Walsh, 16, signed for Chelsea as an under-eight, and is the only player in this intake to have appeared for the first team after he featured in the Conference League last season.
A versatile midfielder, he debuted off the bench in the semi-final first leg against Djurgarden, launching a threatening long-range strike with his first touch of the evening, before completing 90 minutes in the reverse fixture. In doing so, he became the youngest Englishman ever to start in a European match.
Enzo Maresca lauded his contributions, saying Walsh was perfect for his system.
“It’s a great moment, he’s very young,” the Italian enthused. “He’s very young but in the way we want to play, in our way, in our style, he’s perfect.
“But he’s still very young, he needs to learn, he needs to work hard, and he needs to grow for sure. But we are happy.”
His development will continue this season in Chelsea’s academy as he trains under accomplished U18 coach Hassan Sulaiman. He will be joined by a new assistant in former Southampton U21 boss Calum McFarlane.
Joining Walsh in the 2025/26 scholar class is legendary centre-back Thiago Silva’s son, Isago. He joined the club at U13 level after his father signed to the first team from Paris Saint-Germain, and has made his name as a capable defender, able to play at either left-back or centre-back. His brother Iago also plays in Chelsea’s academy.
Silva, 16, has appeared at U18 level, debuting in a comfortable 3-1 win over Leicester in February. Also featuring in that tie was goalkeeper Freddy Bernal, a regular in England youth setups who has also signed on to a scholarship. The 16-year-old is highly regarded at Chelsea, who in May rebuffed a £1.25m offer from Arsenal for his services.
Ibrahim Rabbaj moved across London from Crystal Palace at U12 level and has gone on to feature in Morocco’s youth ranks, hoisting the U17 Africa Cup of Nations this summer after downing Mali by way of a nervy penalty shootout in the final.
Perhaps the fastest rising player in this class is Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. The 16-year-old is punching far above his weight, already scoring against both Manchester United and Ipswich Town for the Blues’ U21 side and representing England at youth level. His performances raised eyebrows last year after he scored a hat-trick for the Three Lions U15s in a 5-1 win over Morocco.
All those named will be eligible to sign professional deals when they turn 17.
Chelsea 2025/26 scholar intake in full
Chris Atherton, Toby Bell, Jeremiah Berkeley-Agyepong, Freddy Bernal, Calvin Diakite, Mathis Eboue, Chizaram Ezenwata, Jacob Hall, Charlie Holland, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Isago Silva, Ibrahim Rabbaj, Lewi Richards, Joel Philbert, Dante Waite, Reggie Walsh
