Chelsea trio makes Golden Boy 2021 shortlist as youth march on

It’s hard to call a list of 100 players a “short” list, but nonetheless three Chelsea players have been nominated for this year’s Golden Boy award. The award picks the best of the best from young players born in or before 2001 (in this year’s case) and while Chelsea doesn’t have the most players nominated, having three is nothing to shake a stick at.

We’ll go ahead and get it out of the way that none of them are likely to win it. It might even be unlikely that any of them make the 20 man short list that will come out later. Even still, one would rather be on the list than not and having multiple players is a good showcase of Chelsea’s academy.

This year’s Golden Boy sees Billy Gilmour, Armando Broja, and Tino Anjorin make the cut for Chelsea. They have unique pathways to their nomination. But, perhaps more importantly than that is Chelsea continues to sit on a potential gold mine in the academy should they keep the pipeline open as they have since Frank Lampard’s arrival and the transfer ban.

Of the three, Gilmour has the best chance of making the next short list. Overall, he’s got the most experience at the highest level and that even earned him a spot in this year’s Euro competition. He is certainly the youth player closest to being in Chelsea’s first team while still being somewhat on the fringe. He could do with a loan if more playing time isn’t offered next season, but make no mistake, if he plays in the Premier League for any club he will be a superstar.

Broja likely won’t make the next short list but that doesn’t mean he can’t offer Chelsea something as soon as this coming season. Vitesse has long been a first stop in the pathway to the first team and Broja did excellently in the Netherlands all season. He will likely need another loan (in the Championship or perhaps even in the Premier League) before being “Chelsea ready”, but there is the slim chance that Thomas Tuchel finds a way to bring him in should striker pursuits fail in tandem with striker exoduses.

Anjorin is the longshot of the bunch. Though highly rated within Chelsea and England, he’s yet to really get much first team professional experience. A loan is certainly in order for next season, but the where of it is an interesting question. Vitesse seems to be the go to for attackers/midfielders on a first loan, but for some reason there is the sense that might be too low a level for Anjorin. A Championship loan might be in order but there is no clear ideal destination there. Swansea seems like a safe bet, but anywhere he can get minutes works.

More than anything though is Chelsea’s continued involvement in the Golden Boy nominations. Anjorin and Gilmour made the list last year alongside Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ethan Ampadu. Mason Mount also made it the year prior. Cobham continues to produce excellent players that, if given the right chances, can be first team players for years to come.