Chelsea announced this Wednesday the departure of four academy players when their contracts end on June 30. Defender Brodi Hughes, right-back Richard Olise, midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi and striker Jimi Tauriainen will not have their contracts renewed by the London club.
All four spent most of their careers in Chelsea’s youth teams and are now free on the market. The decision is part of the list of retentions and releases released by the club at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Brodi Hughes, 13 years at home without major debut
Brodi Hughes arrived at Chelsea as a child and remained at the club for 13 years. The defender played regularly for the under-21 team and was recently loaned to League One side AFC Wimbledon, but did not make his debut for the Blues’ first team.
Richard Olise, brother of Michael Olise, leaves the club after a decade
Richard Olise, younger brother of Bayern Munich striker Michael Olise, spent ten years in Chelsea’s lower ranks. He arrived as an under-9, worked his way up through the youth teams and was even involved in a Conference League match last season, but he didn’t make his debut with the main team either.
Sam Rak-Sakyi had professional opportunities
Unlike his colleagues, midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi played four matches for the main team. He participated in Chelsea’s victorious Conference League campaign in the 2024/25 season and was present in some of the first team’s games.
Jimi Tauriainen completes the list of departures
Striker Jimi Tauriainen completes the quartet. Like most, he had an outstanding time in the youth teams, but was unable to find a permanent place in the professional ranks.
The departure of these young players reflects Chelsea’s strategy of reevaluating the youth squad amid the transition to the era of Xabi Alonso, who will take charge from July. Smaller clubs in England and other European leagues should monitor the quartet, who arrive on the market as young options with good development potential.