Chelsea have already agreed deal with Enzo Fernandez replacement

31 Jul 2026 12:50 BST | 6 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Cole Palmer believes that Chelsea academy starlet Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli “has all the talents to do what he wants” following his impressive start to pre-season.

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The 16-year-old, who is already a regular for England youth teams but is also eligible for Australia and France, played a key role for Chelsea’s U18 side last season and he was one of seven academy youngsters selected to travel to Sydney for the Blues’ pre-season tour.

Nicoll-Jazuli played the second-half of Chelsea’s 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, having featured in behind-closed-doors friendlies versus Crawley Town and Bromley, and he is expected to continue his first-team involvement for the remainder of pre-season.

While he only has seven appearances for Chelsea’s U21 side under his belt, Palmer believes Nicoll-Jazuli could play a role in the senior team next season if he continues his rapid development.

“He's funny. He's confident. He’s only 16. But he's got all the attributes to play at this club,” Palmer told reporters during a media session ahead of Chelsea’s friendly against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

“Even next season he could possibly be ready. It's on him if he wants to work hard and keep his focus. But he definitely has all the talents to do what he wants.”

Nicoll-Jazuli will sign his first professional contract at Chelsea when he turns 17 years old in January, with a full agreement finalised, and, in addition to Palmer, Xabi Alonso is also a huge admirer of the England U17 international.

“I'm really impressed with him. Mahdi is one of the talents we need to develop, as he has special qualities that you don't often see in a 16 year old,” Alonso admitted.

“He is a dynamic player. He can pass short and dribble in the middle. He has made a good impression so far.”

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Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli: Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez replacement?

Despite Enzo Fernandez’s desire to leave Chelsea this summer, it currently looks as though he will be forced to stay at Stamford Bridge for at least for the upcoming season. His €140 million price tag has put off suitors and with Real Madrid prioritising a deal for Rodri, Fernandez is running out of options.

However, even if he does remain at the club, transfer speculation will likely increase again in 2027 and Chelsea could be inclined to lower their demands in order to offload Fernandez.

While Nicoll-Jazuli remains incredibly raw, Chelsea officials have extremely high hopes for the teenager and, alongside fellow academy star Reggie Watson, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he is a first-team regular within the next few years.

Like Fernandez, Nicoll-Jazuli is a box-to-box midfielder capable of performing multiple roles in the middle of the park and with praise from Palmer and Alonso during pre-season, he seems destined to eventually break into the Chelsea senior team.