Official: Reggie Walsh signs first professional contract at Chelsea

Cameron Smith

• 24 Oct 2025 10:56 CDT
• 5 min read

News

Chelsea midfielder Reggie Walsh has officially signed his first professional contract at the club after turning 17 years old.

The England youth international penned scholarship terms at Stamford Bridge in July and he has now finalised his first professional deal with his boyhood club after joining the Blues at Under-8 level.

Walsh made his first-team debut for Chelsea against Djurgarden in the Europa Conference League last season, becoming the club’s third-youngest player of all time in the process, while he was a surprise inclusion in the Blues’ starting XI for the return leg versus the Swedish outfit.

The 17-year-old has now racked up four first-team appearances for Chelsea, with his latest involvement coming against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Walsh replaced Romeo Lavia in the 66th minute at Stamford Bridge to become Chelsea’s youngest ever player in Europe’s elite club competition and the second-youngest Englishman to feature in the Champions League, behind only Jack Wilshere.

Walsh has followed fellow academy youngster Genesis Antwi in signing a new contract at Chelsea this season, and his involvement with the senior squad is expected to increase throughout the remainder of the campaign.

Enzo Maresca on Reggie Walsh

Walsh had only featured on two occasions for Chelsea’s U21 side when he made his first-team debut last season, however he is Maresca’s favourite academy player and he has been tipped to enjoy a successful first-team career in west London.

In September, Maresca told reporters: “I like all the academy guys but Reggie is the one I like more than the rest.

“I like Reggie because he is doing things that I'm demanding to the other players, but he is doing those things without me asking him to do that. I don't need to ask him to do something. What he's doing is already what I want from that player.”

Walsh is now a regular for England’s U18 side, although he will compete for the Young Lions at the U17 World Cup in November.

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