Ben Elliott has been going under the radar in Chelsea's academy
Developed in the same class as Jamal Musiala, Ben Elliott has been going under the radar in Chelsea’s academy… now, having been called up to the first team’s Abu Dhabi training camp, the 20-year-old is aiming to make his case to Graham Potter
- Ben Elliott is a player thriving in Chelsea’s U21s that is going under the radar
- He has been developed in the same class as Jamal Musiala and Tino Livramento
- Elliott has had to battle injuries and bereavement in a tough last few years
It is the nature of running an academy that football clubs win some and lose some.
Barely a game goes by without Jamal Musiala doing something which must leave some at Chelsea wondering what might have been for the one that got away in 2019.
Most recently, the now Bayern Munich starlet was shining at the World Cup with Germany, doing all he could to carry the hopes of a nation on his slender shoulders.
Ben Elliott is continuing his upward trajectory at Chelsea and is on Graham Potter’s radar
Tino Livramento may also have been in with a shout of a World Cup place with England too had he not suffered a serious knee injury which halted his exciting rise at Southampton since leaving Chelsea last summer.
But another starlet from that batch of Chelsea hopefuls remains on their books and his quiet progress has revived the prospect that he could still be a victory for the Blues youth setup.
The development of gifted midfielder Ben Elliott amid the strides made by some of his team-mates has gone under the radar but, at the same time, also encouraged those invested in him in equal measure.
The 20-year-old midfielder will now join the first team for a warm weather training camp
His inclusion in the 25-man Chelsea squad for their warm weather training camp in Abu Dhabi is the latest positive step forward given all he has been through in recent years, even taking into account that Graham Potter’s options for the trip have been reduced by the World Cup.
Having joined Chelsea aged eight, Elliott was one of the standouts in the academy group that later included Musiala as well as the likes of Livramento and Lewis Bate, another highly-rated prospect who was tempted away to join Leeds in the summer of 2021.
Elliott’s talent was renowned in youth circles.
The Surrey-born youngster winning player of the tournament in the various competitions Chelsea competed in while also shining for England at youth level was a recurring theme.
Nike spotted his potential quickly too, tying him down on a deal aged just 12.
Mention his name to those who saw him back then and memories of a special young talent and the buzz that surrounded him immediately spring to mind.
Injuries, in particular though, have disrupted the upward trajectory Elliott was on.
A serious knee injury kept him out for two years during a crucial stage of his development between 15 and 17 before further niggles including a fractured foot meant a stop-start return to full fitness. Tragedy has struck too with Elliott also having to somehow try and cope with the loss of his mother.
Elliott (right) has had to battle against injuries and bereavement in a tough last few years
Understandably after all he has faced, there is plenty of goodwill at Chelsea for Elliott and their willingness to see him succeed was underlined by the two-and-half-year contract he was awarded in February.
Lewis Hall and Omari Hutchison, with their elevations to the first-team setup, and big-money summer signing Cesare Casadei have hogged the headlines for Chelsea’s under-21s this season but Elliott, 20, has been another impressive performer.
He has been able to put any doubts about his fitness behind him while displaying the technical ability that has never been in question.
Elliott’s intelligence, football brain and speed of thought have been evident in the way he has unselfishly adapted to a deeper midfield role when deployed there having shone further up the pitch previously in his young career.
In some ways that should be no surprise and is befitting of Elliott, a standout school student.
He already has two A Levels, is currently studying a third and eventually has plans at some point to do a degree.
But football remains his priority and, to the delight of the many who are rooting for him, that is heading in the right direction again.
He has gone under the radar for some time but is now making his case to elevate to first team
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