Chelsea agree deal with 'next Jude Bellingham'

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Chelsea have finalised scholarship terms with talented academy star Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, according to transfer news expert David Ornstein.

The 16-year-old is regarded as one of the best talents in England and Chelsea have moved quickly to agree fresh terms with the teenager in a bid to ward off interest from numerous top clubs across Europe.

Nicoll-Jazuli, who has already trained with the Blues first-team, is understood to have turned down approaches from abroad and he has signed a scholarship deal at Chelsea, as per Ornstein. He is expected to move onto a professional contract when he turns 17 years old in January 2027.

Arsenal used a similar tactic to retain Max Dowman last year, with the England wonderkid agreeing professional terms several months before his 17th birthday as they looked to fight off significant transfer interest.

Nicoll-Jazuli made 35 appearances for Chelsea’s youth teams last season, scoring two goals and providing six assists from various midfield roles.

Analysis: Why Chelsea were desperate to keep Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli

Jamal Musiala, Rio Ngumoha and Ryan McAidoo are among the academy starlets to have left Chelsea before signing scholarship deals and the club were keen to avoid a similar situation with Nicoll-Jazuli.

Last season, Cole Palmer described the teenager as a “baller” after he became the youngest player in history to play for Chelsea in the UEFA Youth League against Benfica, and he is already a regular for England’s youth teams.

In fact, he scored for England U16s against Denmark last March as a 15-year-old, following in Jude Bellingham’s footsteps by becoming one of very few players to have played up an age group for the Young Lions.

He has been compared to the Real Madrid star on a number of occasions thanks to his style of play as an attacking midfielder, and he could play a prominent role for Chelsea’s U21 side next year, having made six appearances last term.

The 16-year-old, who was born in Sydney and is also eligible for Australia and France, featured heavily for Chelsea’s U18s in 2025-26, but he could be in line for a step up next season after signing scholarship terms.

Nicoll-Jazuli provided two assists as Chelsea beat Manchester City 5-1 to win the U18 Premier League title last season and he has six caps for England U17s.