Top 10 Chelsea Academy Graduates That Are Still Active Today (Ranked)

Top 10 Chelsea Academy Graduates That Are Still Active Today (Ranked)

It is well known that Chelsea has one of the best academies in the world of football and it has produced many very talented players throughout the years. The question now remains, who currently are the best players who have graduated from Cobham? We will be looking into this and seeing the 10 best players who have graduated.

10 – Ian Maatsen

The 23-year-old fullback was one of the youngsters that Chelsea first saw under Pochettino in the 23/24 season, however, after not getting much game time over the established left back Cucurella, he decided that he wanted to leave the club on a loan where he would be played, and he did joining Dortmund on a 6 month loan, where he did well and helped them reach the Champions League final. Now he has gone on and joined Aston Villa, however, has struggled a bit in cementing himself as the favourite left back. For this reason, he can’t be placed any higher on the list.

9 – Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Someone who came through Chelsea years ago and got a breakthrough season under Italina manager Sarri back in the 2018/19 season, while he had spent time on loan at Crystal Palace, that season was where he truly announced himself. Unfortunately, that season was also where he peaked for Chelsea as the next 2 seasons, he only played 10 games after a significant injury. He went on a season long loan to Fulham where he managed to find some fitness and went back to Chelsea but could never find that form, he had in 2018/19. This ended with him being sold to AC Milan where he had a strong first season but struggled with a good run of form. This issue with form and injuries can only keep him here, as he has shown himself, he earnt a spot on this list.

8 – Lewis Hall

Another fullback makes this list, and he won’t be the last, this time the left back found himself at Newcastle after Chelsea let go of him in the 22/23 season. He had shown glimpses of how good he could be at Chelsea; however, the club was in PSR issues and had to sell home grown talent to stay safe and he was one of the casualties of this. He’s found some good form at Newcastle, but like Loftus-Cheek he has been damaged with injuries missing 31 games in 2 years because of injuries. He’s placed here as while he is fit and playing his is the starting left back for Newcastle and one of the best in the league, but those injuries are stopping him being any higher.

7 – Trevoh Chalobah

The first player who is still at Chelsea on this list, however, it could’ve been very different after last season. The now 26-year-old found himself in the Chelsea team for the first time in the 21/22 season playing a good number of games under Thomas Tuchel, and this carried on with Potter taking over and then Poch. However, he time at Chelsea looked like it was at an end when Enzo Maresca took over as he was placed in the ‘bomb squad’ and sent on loan to Crystal Palace where he found the best form of his career before having his loan cut short and coming back to Chelsea where he has managed to establish himself as one of the main defenders under Maresca. The turn around alone deserves a spot on this list, and his ability places him at 7th.

6 – Mason Mount

A player no Chelsea fan wants to admit is doing well or is one of their better academy players in recent years anymore. After breaking through under Lampard, he looked set to become a Chelsea legend with many expecting him to be the captain once Azpilicueta left however, after contract negotiations stalled, he found himself walking out of the club that has raised him and joining a rival in Manchester United. While he has never found close to his form at Chelsea with the red devils, he seems to have managed to work himself back in favour this season and looks a bit more like himself. However, once again injuries are always a worry for him. His days as a Chelsea player are what allows him to sit at 6th.

Mason Mount missed over 50 games through injury since joining Man United.

He’s now scored more Premier League goals this season (3) than he managed in the two previous seasons combined (2) 👏

Hard work pays off ❤️ pic.twitter.com/A1uSSMo4TX

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 9, 2025

5 – Valentino Livramento

One of the best right backs in the league, and once again Chelsea proving that fullbacks are what are made in Cobham. The right back left Chelsea to join Southampton directly from the academy where he spent 2 seasons making a name for himself and that he did as in the 23/24 season Newcastle came in for him and ever since he has established himself as one of England’s best fullbacks and one of the best in the league. The level he is at has gotten many people to link him and see him joining Manchester City and becoming the heir to Walker’s throne at City, something that has massive boots to fill, but he has the ability to fill them. For this reason and his ability shown, this is why he is 5th.

4 – Fikayo Tomori

Another player who saw his time in the academy end 10 years ago as he would find himself sent out on 3 loans with one of them being with Frank Lampard’s Derby. After that season he would see Lampard picking him again, this time at his boyhood club Chelsea. He would only have 1 proper season with the blue before he fell out of trust and ended up leaving for AC Milan in the 20/21 season. However, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the best defenders in Italy and helping them to a Serie A tittle and helping them this season to the top spot in Serie A. He has definitely earned his spot here at 4th.

3 – Levi Colwill

The second current player to have made the list and someone who might have caused some of the previous players to have left the club when his name started to be heard. Even when in the academy Colwill was considered a talent above others, and this was shown when he was sent on loan to Championship side Huddersfield and he played 29 league matches starting 26 of them at just 18. Then at 19 he was loaned to Premier League side Brighton and found himself in the limelight of the Brighton defence where he was showing levels and experience of a player years older than him. Finally in the 22/23 season he was at Chelsea and ever since he has become their most important centre back and it has never been proved more than this season where they are severely missing him. He is the first name in the top 3.

Levi colwill's 1v1 defending is actually ridiculous as a player.😭😭💙pic.twitter.com/w2CXvgcsAC https://t.co/OAV8EF3bQb

— Rano(fan) (@Rano_CFC) November 17, 2025

2 – Marc Guehi

Yet another defender makes this list and a defender that arguably can be in the top spot. England’s current best defender has been proving himself for years after Chelsea sold him in the 19/20 season. After 2 seasons with Swansea, he would join another London club and like many other Chelsea players this would be Crystal Palace where he has now become their most important player. This summer will just show how good he is as his contract ends. Many top clubs will be looking at his name as someone they will need to try and sign especially after Liverpool failed to secure his signature last summer. He has definitely made Chelsea regret letting him go and has shown the levels they would’ve seen from him when they scouted him.

1 – Reece James

We all knew who the top spot would be, after we spoke about someone who was seen as a potential captain, we see the person who actually become the captain. Reece James like many other youngsters came through under Lampard and was straight away fighting for that starting position, however, it wasn’t until Tuchel came in where he would find himself not in the conversation for the starting position, but as the best right back in the world. Something that he has started to push for again recently. While injuries have damaged his younger years of his career, Maresca has seemed to find a way of keeping the captain fit and injury free and we are seeing him back to his best, and his best makes him the best active Chelsea graduate by some distance.