Chelsea wonderkid who played in the Champions League is now homeless aged 32

Former Chelsea wonderkid Jacob Mellis is now homeless just 13 years after playing in the Champions League.

Ellis signed for the Blues in the summer of 2007 for a £1million fee from Sheffield United. He impressed with his ability as a teenager before making his professional debut against Slovakian side MSK Zilinia in Europe’s elite cup competition three years later.

The young midfielder came off the bench in a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge playing in a team containing the likes of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Branislav Ivanovic and Florent Malouda.

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But, after spiralling down the footballing pyramid, the former England Under 19 star called time on his career with non-league side Leatherhead in 2022.

Now 32, Mellis revealed to the Daily Mail he is now homeless with no car nor income, and spends each day with the sole aim of finding somewhere to sleep.

“I spend each day just thinking about where to go really,” he said. “I have family but I don’t really want to rely on them. I want to try to do stuff for myself. It’s been difficult. I try not to think about it too much. I just try and get on with it.”

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Mellis explained how his family and friends help out by getting him hotels or other accommodation.

His extreme position comes despite having earned £8,000-per-week at Chelsea. But the Nottingham-born former professional’s fondness for drinking, partying and an overall lack of application meant his career at the top was all too short.

The Englishman revealed how he would turn up to training drunk as a 19-year-old, which saw him disciplined by assistant coach Steve Holland. And even other Blues stars warned him against the party lifestyle after noticing he smelled of booze.

“David Luiz didn’t speak too much English, but when we’d be warming up he’d [mimics sniffing his breath] say ‘Hey, have you been drinking?’ He would say stop [wags his finger]. Like that.”

Following loans to Southampton and Barnsley, Mellis joined the latter on a permanent deal. He made 66 appearances in the Championship before making the switch to Blackpool after two seasons.

The former prospect went on to become a journeyman at EFL clubs Oldham, Bury, Mansfield Town, Bolton, Gillingham, Southend and finally Leatherhead, where he retired due to a misdiagnosed knee injury.

He explained how his current situation has worsened his drinking to "forget about the stress".

However, he has reached out to the PFA, who are in the process of getting him help. Mellis is set to enter the Sporting Chance clinic this week in an effort to combat his problems with alcohol.

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