How England hopeful Acheampong is giving Chelsea a big decision to make

For the first time, Chelsea's actions match the rhetoric surrounding their desire to keep academy defender Josh Acheampong. Acheampong has made 52 appearances since his debut for Chelsea in 2024 Chelsea's academy has been a production line for England defenders, and Josh Acheampong could become the latest to take that step. Since John Terry broke through in the early 2000s, Chelsea have produced Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori for England, while also developing international centre-backs Andreas Christensen and Nathan Ake. Acheampong has started six of Chelsea's past nine matches in all competitions. Only four players – attackers Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, and defenders Colwill and Maxence Lacroix – have played more than his 581 minutes under new manager Xabi Alonso.

Much of that has stemmed from Alonso settling on a more consistent side. Chelsea had conceded a league-high 12 goals before the international break but have let in only one since, including recording their first clean sheet of the season away at Everton on Saturday. Acheampong, 20, has operated as a roaming centre-back in a back three alongside more fixed options Colwill and Lacroix, stepping into midfield or moving wide to perform the role of a traditional full-back when in possession. He has also developed a promising understanding with right wing-back Pedro Neto, combining with