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Tyrique George was elevated from Chelsea’s academy team to the first team on December 19, just six months after he and fellow defender Josh Acheampong inked new contracts in June 2024.
This decision to sign a three-year contract, with an option for a fourth, raised some eyebrows within the Chelsea academy ranks.
Internal discussions suggested that George might struggle to stand out among a wealth of talent, which has grown significantly since the club’s change in ownership in 2022, with over £1 billion spent on new players, including a substantial influx of young forwards.
However, Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, provided George with opportunities during the pre-season, and sources indicate that Maresca’s support was vital for George in remaining with the club.
George’s journey began when he was discovered playing for TFA Totteridge FC in Whetstone. He joined Chelsea through their development center program and became a full academy player at just eight years old, famously taking a photo with notable first-team players Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Baker on the day he signed.
Reports indicate that during his early academy years, George was viewed as a rather average player in his age group until around the age of 10, when his father took steps to elevate his skills. He enlisted a personal coach, David ‘Guru’ Sobers, to complement George’s training at Chelsea.
Throughout his development, George’s weekly schedule was intensive. Midweek training sessions at Chelsea would be followed by Friday night games against older players in nine-a-side matches at venues like Vauxhall or Nine Elms Power League in South London. On Saturdays, he would train again at Chelsea while also reviewing match footage with Sobers from the previous evening.
“I spent countless hours on public transport to accompany Tyrique to these sessions, and we would often practice for extended periods,” Sobers remarked. “We focused on one-on-one exercises, technical drills, and shooting practices. I found it rewarding to see how hard he pushed himself. During his games against older opponents, I played the role of a strict referee, which toughened him up. He learned to get back up and reclaim the ball.”
George’s tactical training during Friday sessions helped sharpen skills that would allow him to thrive, even against his older peers. Sobers noted that this approach fostered a fearless mentality among other young players they trained with, some of whom are now with Manchester City, West Ham, and Reading.
In addition to his time at Chelsea, George also trained with Unique FA, an elite academy, where it was stipulated he would compete with slightly older players. Sobers, who continues to guide George, reflected, “Tyrique developed an incredible ability to remain unfazed by challenges; it was his relentless passion for repetition and mastering the basics that set him apart.”
He added, “Tyrique was always eager to improve, driven by his desire to excel while maintaining humility. He demonstrated remarkable tenacity, often playing against older, bigger competitors. Ultimately, a late growth spurt provided the final piece of the puzzle to his development.”
Source
www.bbc.com