Skip to content

Conte promotes Ampadu to Chelsea's first team for Carabao Cup tie

Darren Walsh / Chelsea FC / Getty

Antonio Conte is content to give Chelsea's youngsters a chance.

Speaking the day before Chelsea's Carabao Cup tie versus Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge, Conte said that Ampadu, who is only 17 years old, will be included in the Blues' squad for the game. The teenager became the youngest-ever footballer to represent Exeter City at 15 years, 10 months, and 26 days, and he subsequently joined the Blues, where he's enrolled in the development squad and the under-19 side.

"Ampadu is a young player but I think he has good quality," Conte declared, according to the Guardian's Dominic Fifield. "He has good prospects to become a Chelsea player. He's strong physically, (has) good technique and personality. Yes, I think we have to continue to work with him and to try and improve him, to bring him to the next step. But for sure he has good prospects at Chelsea and will be in the squad (against Forest)."

Capable of being deployed as a defender and a defensive midfielder, Ampadu reportedly drew interest from Arsenal - where his father is a coach at the club's academy - Liverpool, and Manchester City. He ultimately decided on Chelsea, and Exeter is apparently hoping to secure £3 million for the adolescent, with a tribunal likely to settle the final price.

At the international level, Ampadu was called up by Wales' Chris Coleman, but, as he remains uncapped, is also eligible to play for Ghana and the Republic of Ireland.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox