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Chelsea’s lost wonderkids: Patrick Bamford and what could’ve been

By Akshat Mehrish

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Patrick Bamford of Middlesbrough during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on May 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Patrick Bamford of Middlesbrough during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on May 8, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Patrick Bamford of Leeds United celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on March 19, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matt Dunham – Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Patrick Bamford of Leeds United celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on March 19, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matt Dunham – Pool/Getty Images) /

Where is he now?

The problem with Chelsea has never been of identifying talent; it is what the Blues did once they brought that talent to the club, which raised several questions. The club’s drive for success meant that it could not afford to give consistent game time to youngsters, or rather, chose not to. Bamford was another wonderkid Chelsea decided was worth the money, but not worth the time or the effort it took to develop a player properly.

Despite the heartbreak, Bamford has still managed to make a good career for himself. He is currently at Leeds United, leading the front line for the legendary tactician—Marcelo Bielsa. The fact that he has earned the trust of the Argentine, despite suffering from bad spells, speaks volumes of his quality as a player.

The tag of being privileged has followed him to Elland Road, as well. However, he has had to prove himself to not be the kind of person that everyone thinks he is. He spoke about the same in an interview with the Daily Mail.

"“I have tried to show since I arrived at Leeds that I am one of them, that I’m a normal guy, that I’m not afraid to work hard and get my hands dirty. I’m not afraid to try to fit in and show I’m relatable, and I’m not this guy who sees himself as above everyone else. I am willing to help out and be part of the community I live in.”"

Bamford is enjoying a fine debut campaign in the Premier League so far. He has scored 14 goals this season and also has had a hand in six assists. He is Leeds’ top scorer and top assister in the league, with another top-flight season all but secured. His form even saw calls for him being included in the England National Team set-up for the upcoming international window, however, he narrowly missed out on a spot to Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.

dark. Next. Chelsea’s lost wonderkids: Lucas Piazon’s “New Kaka” mantle

Nonetheless, Bamford will continue to do what he does best: keep his head down and work hard. An opportunity to play for the country, then, could not be too far away.

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