Chelsea’s record-breaking teenager Reggie Walsh signs first professional contract | OneFootball

Chelsea have confirmed that teenage sensation Reggie Walsh has signed his first professional contract.

The 17-year-old is a technical, deep-lying playmaker with high energy levels and excellent vision.

He came on as a substitute in the Europa Conference League fixture against Djurgarden last season, becoming the third-youngest player to represent Chelsea at senior level.

A week later, he became the club’s youngest ever starter in a European competition when he started the second leg against the Swedish side.

The 17-year-old debuted in the Champions League against Ajax on Tuesday, becoming Chelsea’s youngest player in Europe’s top-tier competition.

He is also the second-youngest Englishman to play in the Champions League.

Walsh is Chelsea’s youngest player to play in the League Cup, having featured against Lincoln in the third round last month.

Manager Enzo Maresca has named Walsh his favourite academy player because he is doing what Maresca demands of the other players, but without being asked to do so.

He displayed why Maresca rates him highly during his cameo appearance against Ajax.

He misplaced just one of his 19 passes, with 16 of them delivered into the final third, while also making two interceptions.

Walsh is likely to play more with the academy than with the first team for the rest of the campaign, but could be the next big product from Cobham.

Giving the promising midfielder his first professional contract reflects Chelsea’s intent in protecting their best academy players, especially after losing Rio Ngumoha to Liverpool in 2024.