By Martin Graham
Chelsea’s Europa Conference League journey has been marked not only by convincing performances but also by the emergence of academy players. The club continued its unbeaten run in the competition with a dominant 4-1 win over Djurgarden in the semi-final first leg on Thursday. Among the highlights was the introduction of 16-year-old Reggie Walsh, who made his senior debut in front of a packed crowd at the 3Arena.
Walsh, still ineligible to sign a professional deal until October, became the third youngest player to appear for Chelsea. He follows Ian Hamilton and Kingsley Whiffen, who both featured for the Blues in 1967. The teenager entered the match just over six months after turning sixteen and nearly marked the occasion with a goal from outside the box moments after coming on.
Head coach Enzo Maresca was asked after the match why he chose to give Walsh his first appearance at such a high level. He praised the midfielder’s compatibility with Chelsea’s system, describing him as “perfect” for the team’s playing style. Maresca acknowledged the player’s youth, stressing the need for continued learning and development.
The Italian coach also highlighted the progress of Chelsea’s youth program, noting that eight academy players had debuted for the senior side this season. As for Walsh’s current priorities, Maresca emphasized that his education remains the main focus, joking that preparing for his GCSEs is what matters most right now.
Reggie Walsh has been part of Chelsea’s setup since the age of seven, gradually moving up through the academy levels at Cobham. Born and raised in west London, he has featured mainly for the under-18s during the current campaign, scoring four times and assisting twice in 15 matches. He also made two appearances for the under-21s.
Internationally, Walsh has worn the England shirt from the under-15s up to the under-17s. Before stepping onto the pitch, Maresca was seen speaking to him privately, later revealing that his advice was to enjoy the experience and approach the match as he would a training session.
Striker Nicolas Jackson, who netted twice against Djurgarden, also spoke highly of the young midfielder. He described Walsh as a player of “top quality” and predicted a bright future, expressing happiness at sharing such a milestone with his teammate.
