Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Levi Colwill are among the certainties to be key players under Xabi Alonso at Chelsea. But who will be Alonso’s breakthrough talent now the Spaniard is in place at Cobham?
Alonso has already made it clear that he intends to build his Chelsea side around Palmer. The England star is said to have impressed in pre-season training already, having finally enjoyed a well-deserved break.
For the last three summers, Palmer has been playing. The U21 Euros in 2023, the Euros in 2024, and the Club World Cup last summer. Having played with an injury in 2025-26, Palmer has finally got some rest.
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Palmer will be key; Chelsea’s 2025-26 Player of the Season – Joao Pedro – will also be pivotal, and Colwill is without doubt Chelsea’s first-choice centre-back. Moises Caicedo, and possibly Enzo Fernandez, as well.
But Alonso will have a keen eye on the youngsters coming into the side. The new Chelsea manager is known to have faith in youth, having worked as Real Sociedad B manager before his stint in Germany.
Reggie Walsh wins Chelsea bleep test ahead of Cole Palmer
Pre-season at Chelsea has now been ongoing since Thursday. There is said to be a real intent on fitness after Chelsea were outrun in 37 of their 38 Premier League games during the 2025-26 campaign.
Alonso needs new signings; he needs to move a few out of the club, but he will also be keen on bringing a youngster or two in. One with a chance is 17-year-old Reggie Walsh, who is already a key U21 player.
With 25 U21 appearances to his name, Walsh has also played four times at senior level for Chelsea. But the young midfielder has just proven in training why he can be Alonso’s breakthrough Chelsea talent.
The players were put through a bleep test in training, and to the delight of Chelsea fans, Nizaar Kinsella reports on the BBC’s website that Palmer was second. Estevao finished in third place behind Palmer.
But it was Walsh who finished in first place, ahead of any first-teamer at Chelsea. Kinsella notes that Walsh’s physique has improved and ‘developed significantly’, proven by his impressive bleep test win.
Reggie Walsh is one of five youngsters in Chelsea training
With Alonso waiting to get a full complement of players back at Cobham, plenty of youngsters have been included in senior training. Spain has just knocked out Malo Gusto’s France in the World Cup semi-finals.
Who is the most exciting academy talent at Cobham right now?👀
Let us know of any young players we may have missed…
Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah take on Enzo Fernandez and Valentin Barco’s Argentina on Wednesday night. It has seen Alonso include a handful of youngsters in his pre-season training at this early stage.
Walsh is one, as is Ryan Kavuma-McQueen. Landon Emenalo, Mahdi Nicoli-Jazuli, and Calvin Diakite have also been spotted in senior training. It will be interesting to see if Alonso does rely on Chelsea’s academy.
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