Chelsea have named another one of their academy prospects in their senior squad for the first time, with a notable connection to a former Premier League star. Richard Olise, a 20-year-old right-back, has been included in the squad for their upcoming Conference League match against Kazakh side Astana.
This comes after Enzo Maresca’s team has enjoyed a perfect run in the group stage of the competition, winning all four of their matches and scoring an impressive 18 goals.
In his squad selections, Maresca has opted to rest key players such as Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, and Romeo Lavia, allowing them to recover and manage their workloads. As a result, he has given more opportunities to players who haven’t had significant playing time in the Premier League, including several young academy talents.
The inclusion of 11 academy players for the match against Astana reflects Chelsea’s commitment to integrating youth into the first team, a strategy that has seen the likes of Olise rise through the ranks.
The specific players included in the travelling squad to Kazakhstan have not yet been confirmed, but all 11 academy players have been officially registered in Chelsea’s UEFA squad for the tournament.
UEFA regulations allow clubs to register up to 25 senior players for European competitions, but there is no limit on players from List B. This list comprises players born after January 2003 who have been with the club continuously for at least two years since their 15th birthday.
One standout inclusion is Richard Olise, who signed a new contract with Chelsea in May. He made 10 appearances for Chelsea’s U21 team last season and also participated in the UEFA Youth League. Olise is a versatile player who can operate both as a right-back and as a centre-back.
Born in London, he has represented England at the U18 level, further highlighting his potential as a promising talent for the future.
Olise is also the younger brother of Michael Olise, a former Crystal Palace player who moved to Bayern Munich in the summer. Michael, also born in London, chose to represent France at the international level, thanks to his French-Algerian heritage and his upbringing in France.
He has made an immediate impact at Bayern, contributing five goals and five assists in 13 Bundesliga appearances so far. With both brothers now playing at a high level in Europe, it will be interesting to see if Michael watches closely as Richard potentially makes his European debut for Chelsea against Astana.
This represents a significant milestone for Richard Olise and highlights the growing emphasis on developing talent at Chelsea’s academy, offering young players the chance to showcase their abilities on the continental stage.
