Chelsea’s academy has been boosted by the arrival of quite a few management hires from Premier League rivals because the Blues look to construct on Cobham’s popularity as a conveyor belt of expertise.
The membership confirmed on Friday that Glenn van der Kraan has joined from Manchester Metropolis as their new academy technical director.
He’ll lead the youth improvement programme alongside Jack Francis, who has labored his manner up the ranks internally to grow to be the academy’s soccer operations director.
Whereas it was not talked about within the membership’s launch, Mail Sport understands Delroy Ebanks and Ayo Durojaiye have additionally now joined from Newcastle and Arsenal respectively to tackle recruitment and scouting roles.
Thursday’s Convention League win over Gent included a shot within the arm for the youth set-up, with 18-year-old Tyrique George coming off the substitutes’ bench and 17-year-old Kiano Dyer included in Enzo Maresca’s squad after collaborating in first-team coaching.
Glenn van der Kraan has joined Chelsea from Manchester Metropolis as their new academy technical director
Tyrique George, 18, got here off the bench in Chelsea ‘s Europa League win over Gent on Thursday
Kiano Dyer, 17, acquired his first style of a senior match day squad within the fixture after collaborating in first-team coaching
The modifications on the high of the academy comply with the departures of Neil Tub, who had labored at Chelsea for 31 years, and Jim Fraser.
Their seismic contribution was celebrated by the membership, who need to ensure they continue to be the envy of soccer after producing so many elite gamers. Reece James was a kind of who broke by means of and is now membership captain, whereas Levi Colwill additionally got here by means of the academy.
Chelsea say they’re excited by the path they’re heading in with their new management in place, with sporting administrators Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart including that ‘the academy is prime to the plan for the way forward for the membership’.
