Chelsea have confirmed that defender Richard Olise is one of ten young scholars to have signed a contract with the club ahead of the new season.
As with any club ahead of a new campaign, the Blues have confirmed their latest intake of scholars, with all ten of them making the step-up from younger age groups within the academy.
Among those to have signed as a scholar is the brother of Reading midfielder Michael Olise, Richard, who has been with the Blues since joining the Under-9 group of the academy.
Operating as a right-back, Olise has shown great levels of promise in recent seasons and has now made the step up to becoming a scholar at Stamford Bridge ahead of, hopefully, earning his first professional contract.
Having put pen to paper on a new deal with the Blues, the defender, who played for the club's Under-18s last season, took to Instagram to react to the confirmation, posting: "Happy to sign a new contract."
Although it was only short, Olise will be delighted to have sorted his future out and joined the Blues' academy as a scholar, taking him one step closer towards achieving his dream of becoming a seasoned pro in years to come.
Offering an insight into what type of player Olise is, assistant head of youth development Jim Fraser told Chelsea's club website: "Richard came through our development centre and registered at the academy as an Under-9.
"A very calm and composed right-sided defender who has the ability to both defend and attack, he has all the attributes of a modern-day full-back.
"As well as appearing for our Under-18s in the league last season, he has been involved with England up to Under-16 level."
With the defender having signed a scholarship at Stamford Bridge, it could represent the start of a memorable week for the Olise family, as his older brother, Michael, is close to joining Crystal Palace.
Palace are understood to have triggered the £8million release clause in the midfielder's contract and he is closing in on a move to Selhurst Park.
