Tayo Subuloye, wearing the captain’s armband, scored his first goal for Chelsea U18s in the U18 Premier League as his team secured a 6-2 victory against Aston Villa. Chelsea came from behind to claim their first win of the 2024-2025 season after starting with three consecutive losses.
Subuloye, a 16 year old Nigerian talent, equalized for Chelsea with a towering header after Aston Villa’s George Hemmings opened the scoring early on. Chelsea then surged ahead with goals from Ryan Kavuma McQueen, Sol Gordon, Frankie Runham, and Yahya Idrissi, while Elijah Briscoe pulled one back for Aston Villa.
Apart from Subuloye, another Nigerian, Landon Emenalo, the son of former Super Eagles star Michael Emenalo, also started the game under the guidance of Nigerian coach Hassan Sulaiman. Subuloye, highly regarded at Chelsea, is expected to sign his first professional contract by December 2024.
Editorial
Tayo Subuloye’s rise within Chelsea’s youth ranks is a promising indication of the potential for Nigerian talents in European football. Captaining Chelsea U18s and scoring his first goal in such an emphatic win speaks volumes about Subuloye’s leadership qualities and footballing ability. At just 16, his presence on the field and his ability to rally the team from behind shows maturity well beyond his years.
The guidance of Nigerian coach Hassan Sulaiman is another inspiring aspect of this story. It demonstrates the growing influence of Nigerian football personalities not only as players but as key figures in youth development at major European clubs. The presence of Landon Emenalo, son of Michael Emenalo, further highlights the legacy of Nigerian football within European academies.
Chelsea’s youth academy is known for producing world class talents, and Subuloye looks set to continue that tradition. His expected professional contract with the club will likely be the beginning of a bright future, both at Chelsea and potentially within Nigerian football circles.
As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how Subuloye continues to develop and contribute to Chelsea’s youth team. His leadership, combined with his growing skills, marks him as one to watch in the coming years.
Did You Know?
- Tayo Subuloye debuted for Chelsea U18s as a schoolboy, demonstrating the high regard the club has for his abilities at such a young age.
- Nigerian coach Hassan Sulaiman is in charge of Chelsea U18s, guiding the development of young talents in one of Europe’s top academies.
- Landon Emenalo, also playing for Chelsea U18s, is the son of Michael Emenalo, a former Nigeria World Cup star and Chelsea technical director.
- Chelsea U18s secured their first win of the 2024-2025 season with this 6-2 victory over Aston Villa.
- Subuloye is expected to sign his first professional contract with Chelsea before the end of 2024, marking a significant milestone in his career.
