“Everything I want Reece James to be” – Pundit on Leeds destroyer who slipped through Chelsea’s fingers | OneFootball

Ethan Ampadu is a player who looks perfect for Chelsea’s midfield right now, and one pundit is willing to say that out loud.

If you enjoy Talk Chelsea coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.

A club like Chelsea has so many talented players come and go that you’re bound to miss out of a few gems.

Increasingly it looks like letting Ethan Ampadu go was a mistake. He had a bright start for the Blues as a teenager under Antonio Conte, but was then farmed out on loan and never got another chance.

Chelsea fan Rory Jennings has been talking about what an addition Ampadu would be to the Blues.

Ampadu would bring some fight to weak Chelsea midfield

LEEDS, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Ethan Ampadu of Leeds United passes the ball during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Leeds United and Crystal Palace FC at Elland Road on September 20, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“Ethan Ampadu is everything I want Reece James to be,” Jennings said on the No Tippy Tappy podcast, quoted by TeamTalk.

“[Leeds] are unbelievable and fantastic to watch… Ethan Ampadu, do you know when I’m watching him and it’s all going off in my Chelsea chat… everyone is saying ‘Ethan Ampadu is everything I want Reece James to be’.

“Ethan Ampadu in that Chelsea midfield… snapping into tackles, dictating the tempo, dictating the rhythm, ready to have a fight… he’s a brilliant player.”

It’s a bit harsh on James, who has been great for Chelsea. But we know what he means – Ampadu would add a lot of that James lacks.

In other news…

Morgan Rogers has made a bright start to life at Chelsea, but nobody is calling him signing of the season just yet…

Chelsea are keeping tabs on a number of talented midfielders, including one from Feyenoord who is attracting a lot of Premier League attention.