While stars like Sam Kerr and Lauren James have been sidelined, the reigning WSL champions have been able to count on some top young talents

When Emma Hayes left her role as Chelsea manager earlier this year, to become the new head coach of the United States women’s national team, some thought that the 2024-25 season would be something of a transitional one for the Blues, who have won each of the last five Women’s Super League titles. So far, however, it has been anything but.

Saturday’s win over Manchester City, their biggest rivals for the league title, was new coach Sonia Bompastor’s seventh out of seven in the WSL. That winning feeling has not been limited to domestic duels either, with Chelsea also victorious in all three of their Champions League outings this term. Bompastor has overseen 10 games in her time in charge and still has a 100 per cent record.

As this winning machine continues, it does so without some of its biggest stars. Sam Kerr has not played since December of last year because of an ACL injury, Lauren James has missed the last four weeks and looks set to be out for at least another two, while Catarina Macario has been limited to just 87 minutes of action in all competitions.

That’s not been a problem, though, because while Chelsea is a club associated with those big names, not the development and integration of young stars, it is the latter that are coming to the fore more and more. Somewhat quietly, Chelsea have become one of the best clubs in the women’s game for young players – and that looks set to play a big role in success this term, as well as beyond.

Getty ImagesPlanning for the future

There’s been a noticeable shift in Chelsea’s transfer policy in the last couple of years. Maika Hamano, Wieke Kaptein, Lucy Watson, Brooke Aspin and Veerle Buurman have all been signed as teenagers and then loaned out, with the clear aim of developing them to the extent that they can come back and make an impact on the first team. While the latter trio are continuing their progress away from the club, Hamano and Kaptein have shown that such a path exists.

"I think we're at that stage of our journey now where we recognise that to play at this level is not as simple as just making a signing and bringing them into your club,” Hayes said in her penultimate season in charge of Chelsea. “That development pathway for the younger player now is going to involve preparation that might see them cross borders. The loan process is one that we should embrace, especially when the development of the league and the top teams in that league has just grown exponentially.”

AdvertisementGetty ImagesContinuing the good work

It's work that started under Hayes, both in terms of those signings and the integration of players, with Hamano one of those who came up with some huge contributions in the title run-in last season after being granted her full WSL debut just a few months earlier. However, it’s work that can certainly continue under Bompastor.

Once the former France international called time on her playing career back in 2013, she started a role at Lyon as the head of the academy. Eight-time European champions, OL have been the team to beat on the continent for most of the time since then, meaning Bompastor was tasked with developing young stars at a club which boasted many of the very best players in the world. It was no easy job.

By operating in that space for eight years and then stepping up to be the head coach at Lyon for a further three, where she helped a number of academy talents progress into the first team, she has a lot of extremely relevant experience when it comes to bringing Chelsea’s young players through.

Getty Images SportPerfect fit

It’s also an aspect of the job that genuinely excites Bompastor. Asked by GOAL before the season for her thoughts on Chelsea signing a flurry of teenage prospects in recent transfer windows, she replied: “I am really happy with this recruitment. I was head of the academy at Lyon for eight years and I loved working with young players. The club at the moment is maybe one of the best in the world at trying to find and recruit the young talents and bringing them to Chelsea. I bring a staff that is able to support them and make them improve. My vision is really clear: I think Chelsea is the best club in the world at recruiting young talents and it’s really helpful for the next seasons.”

As for whether or not she is the best person to help those young talents into the first team, Bompastor was modest but confident. “I think I’m in a good place,” she said. “Some other coaches will probably be able to do the same, but from my experience, I would say it’s always good for the young players to get someone [specialised]. I think working with experienced players and young players are different jobs. You don’t deliver the same messages. Having the experience and being really interested in working with young players, that’s something that’s really important for the club and for them.”

Getty ImagesExperienced guidance

It's not just Bompastor who has a part to play, either. As well as these young stars, Chelsea’s squad also boasts some hugely experienced heads. Lucy Bronze, for example, is a player who built a fantastic relationship with James at England before signing for the Blues this summer. She is someone who can really help those young players coming into an environment unlike any they’ve experienced before.

There is a balancing act to be had here, because Chelsea is a top-level club where players need to step up. “Everybody needs the challenge and sometimes you have to be thrown in at the deep end and see if you can swim because you’ll never know otherwise,” Bronze explained. However, she is also happy to play that valuable leadership role in a squad that isn’t just peppered with teenage signings and academy products, but also other young players who have either never played in England before or not for a club with the stature of Chelsea. Only once this season has the average age of the Blues’ starting XI sat above 27 years old.

“I’m always there if they need any help,” Bronze said. “I speak to all the younger players every single day. It’s nice to be able to tell them, ‘Don’t be scared of anything, ask anyone, ask me, ask Millie [Bright], do whatever you want.’ I think for me it’s just important that they feel comfortable in their environment and that’s what I want to do. Whether that’s pushing them, helping them out or leaving them alone sometimes, I just want them to be the best player they can be.”