Official: Chelsea confirm wonderkid deal

Cameron Smith

• 20 Jan 2026 14:10 GMT
• 6 min read

News

Chelsea youngster Ibrahim Rabbaj has officially signed his first professional contract at the club after turning 17 years old earlier this month.

The Morocco youth international is regarded as one of the top prospects in Chelsea’s famed academy and he has been rewarded with a professional deal in west London amid his immense form so far this campaign.

Rabbaj’s new contract runs until 2028, although Chelsea will have the ability to extend this deal further after his 18th birthday next year.

The teenager joined the Blues from Crystal Palace as an Under-12 and he has impressively risen through the ranks at Cobham ever since.

Rabbaj has scored four goals in seven appearances in the U18 Premier League so far this season, while he has also notched one goal and two assists in the UEFA Youth League for Chelsea’s U19 outfit.

He is yet to make his debut for Chelsea’s U21 side, although Rabbaj is likely to be rewarded with a step up soon if he continues his eye-catching form.

The Moroccan wonderkid has become the latest Chelsea academy starlet to sign their first professional contract at the club this season, following the likes of Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Chizaram Ezenwata and Reggie Walsh.

Chelsea’s academy business

While Chelsea have been keen to hand out professional contracts to their most talented youngsters this year, several academy graduates are expected to be sold in 2026.

Tyrique George has been widely tipped to depart on a permanent deal before the end of the January transfer window, and Trevoh Chalobah faces the prospect of being offloaded this summer if the Blues add Jeremy Jacquet to their first-team squad.

Meanwhile, U21 captain Shumaira Mhueka reportedly has several suitors in England and is open to a loan move in January. However, a sale is extremely unlikely to be permitted as he is rated very highly at Cobham.

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