chelseafc.comCHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB OFFICIAL SITE

Born 27/2/79 in Wimbledon, London
An experienced non-league goalkeeper, Stuart signed last summer at the age of 28 to provide experienced cover for young Rhys Taylor in the reserve team squad.

His most recent club was Basingstoke Town and he was well-known to Chelsea having been a part-time coach in our Academy. Excelled on his reserve team debut against Spurs in September.

Born 4/6/87 in Lambeth, London.
With Chelsea since the age of nine, Anthony progressed through the age groups, earning the nickname 'Judge' along the way. He played many positions in the youth team before settling down at right-back but then established himself in the reserve team as a holding midfielder.

He made progress in the 2004/05 season and was awarded a professional contract and then his first team debut at Old Trafford as a sub two months later. In 2005/6 Anthony didn't feature for the first team, instead playing 19 reserve games and becoming an England U19 international.

Last campaign was spent on loan at League Two Wycombe Wanderers where he made 49 appearances. Previously on loan at Oldham, he returned to right-back duties for the reserves at the start of this campaign but in January, made another loan move, this time to League One Southend until the end of the season.

Born 3/8/89 in Slough, Berkshire
A season of major progress last season was completed with a first team debut as a substitute in the final league game against Everton.

Sam is a right-back or centre-back who first joined the Academy aged nine. Now in his third year full-time at the club and having signed a new four year contract in August, he was second highest appearance maker in the reserves last season and is a member of the England Under 19 squad.

Part of the first team pre-season visit to the United States, ex-manager José Mourinho spoke about Sam as a future member of the Chelsea squad. The reserve team captain.

Born 20.1.89 in Gateshead.`
The winner of 2006's , centre-back Carl was rewarded for fitting into the youth team last season with an extended pro contract in the summer. Originally rejected as a schoolboy by Leeds United, he had played there with current Chelsea colleagues Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo.

A stand-in youth team captain, Carl has progressed to regular reserve team appearances.

Born 12/11/86 in Hackney, London

A former England youth international, Adrian is an athletic centre-back in his fifth full-time year at Chelsea, having come through the Academy. He turned professional in March 2005 and is a reserve team regular and has captained at that level.

He had one short loan period lasting one game at Wycombe last season and began this one at League Two Brentford. Will spend the rest of the current campaign at League Two Rotherham.

Born 8/1/88 in Isleworth, Middlesex.

Playing a second season on loan in the Championship at QPR, Michael was picked up by Chelsea as an eight year-old and made his debut in the reserves whilst still a schoolboy.

He is a composed and elegant centre-back who can also play in midfield or at right-back and having turned professional in January 2006, was named on the bench for the first team for the final game of the 2005/6 season but was not called into action.

He was also an unused sub in the 2006 Community Shield before playing 30 games at Loftus Road last campaign. In a special month of August, he signed a new three-year contract and made his debut for England Under 21s.

Born 25/11/88 in Warrington, Cheshire.

A tall centre-back signed from Stockport in the summer of 2005, Chelsea beat many clubs to his signature, a tribunal setting an initial fee £150,000 with further payments depending upon progress. Harry turned pro in November 2005 and was top appearance maker in the youth team in his first season.

Last campaign, he stepped up to feature increasingly in the reserves while maintaining youth team action and he was an unused sub in the 2007 Community Shield at Wembley. He spent a short loan spell at Carlisle early this season, making one appearance.

Having joined Leicester City on loan earlier in the season, the defender signed for the Foxes permanently on May 5, 2008.

Born 5/8/89 in Southwark, London.

In his third year at Chelsea, Ryan is a fast, attacking left-back, converted from a winger, who was signed in July 2005 from Gillingham. A tribunal set the fee at £125,000 initially with additional amounts to be paid depending on progress.

He signed professional in August 2006 and was taken on the first team pre-season visit to America in that summer before making his England Under 19s debut in September 2006. A loan at League One Bournemouth followed but Ryan missed the final two months of last season having suffered a ruptured spleen in a reserve match against Arsenal.

He has recovered to spend the rest of 2007 gaining more experience on loan at League One Oldham. An England Under 19 international.

Born 29.8.90 in 's-Hertogenbosch, Holland.
In his first year at Chelsea having arrived from PSV Eindhoven, the tall, fast and technically accomplished defender immediately established himself in the reserves where he demonstrated an ability to rocket in long-range goals. Can play left- or centre-back.

Born 25/6/89 in Carshalton, London.

With Chelsea since the age of nine, Jack is in his third year full-time and is versatile enough to play right-back, centre-back or midfield. He played 16 times for the youth team while still a schoolboy and has progressed to be youth and then reserve team captain. Last season he spent time on loan at League One Bournemouth and this season will play in the Championship with Scunthorpe until the start of January.

Taken to the first team pre-season training camp in California, he is one of several Chelsea players in the England Under 19 squad. Jack is the son of former Wimbledon player, Alan.

Born 8/5/89 in Reading, Berkshire.

In his third full time year, Liam signed professional last summer and is a product of the Academy. He was the youth team top appearance maker last season while also finding his way into the reserves.

A tough-tackling holding midfielder and occasional full-back, he was a regular at the start of the reserve season and one of the most consistent performers.

Born 28/3/89 in Leiria, Portugal.
One of two recruits from Sporting Lisbon in the summer 2005, Ricardo is a diminutive attacking midfielder and Portugal Under 19 international who turned professional in July 2006. He contributed one goals in 15+3 youth team games last season and played ten times for the reserves before becoming the unfortunate victim of a cruciate injury. He began the 2007/8 season recuperating.

Born 10/9/89 in Leytonstone, London.

A competitive, attacking midfielder who has been with Chelsea since the age of nine and is now in his second year full-time, Lee overcame both a stress fracture back and a cruciate ligament injury in his last season as a schoolboy.

The year that followed was one of steady progress with a regular place in the reserves won, a place on the first team bench for the final league game handed out and progression through the England ranks to Under 19s. Unfortunately injury denied a place on the summer first team trip to the States but he did sign his first professional contract in July.

Born 3/12/87 in Hammersmith, London.

A versatile player who can play in midfield or in an attacking role, James made his first reserve appearance when still a schoolboy. He is a product of the Academy who is in his fourth year full-time, having turned pro in December 2005.

James is a former England youth international but has opted to play for the Republic of Ireland Under 19s. He has spent a loan spell with Cardiff.

Born 6/4/90 in York, Yorkshire.

In his second year at Chelsea having joined from Leeds in the summer of 2006, Michael was immediately involved in the first team pre-season and in January 2007, made two sub appearances in the FA Cup against Macclesfield and Nottingham Forest when still aged 16, becoming Chelsea's fourth youngest player in our history.

An energetic central midfielder, he was the third highest appearance maker in the reserves last campaign and is an England Under 18 international, having played in the Under 17 World Cup at the start of this season.

Born 7/1/87 in Newham, London

Another spotted early by Chelsea, Jimmy has come through the age groups beginning at nine. Now in his fifth full-time year, turning pro at 18 in March 2005, this attacking midfielder was top scorer for the reserves two seasons ago, ending that campaign by coming on as a late sub in the final first team game at Newcastle.

Last year he was at QPR where his goal scoring knack was again on display with five goals in his first eight games although he would only add one more in totalling 31 appearances. A former England Under 19 international, he will spend the rest of 2007 with Championship side Norwich although his time in Norfolk has been interrupted by a foot injury.

Born 28/5/90 in Barcelona, Spain.
A Spanish Under 18 international who is in his second year at Chelsea having joined from Espanyol. Left-footed and a deadball specialist, Sergio can play the classic 'No. 10' position between midfield and strikers and scored three goals in the youth team last season.

He began to feature in the reserves in the latter part of the season and began this campaign away representing his nation at the Under 17s World Cup.

Born 3/7/88 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

An attacking player who can play wide or as supporting striker, Per signed from Ajax on a professional contract in July 2006, but his time at Chelsea so far has been spoilt by injury.

He was a member of the Danish youth international side that won the Under-17s Nordic International Tournament.

Born 4/8/87 in Ashford, Middlesex.

With Chelsea since the age of 10, Phil progressed through the system to become youth team top scorer in 2004/5 and make his first reserve start in November 2004.

He scored his first goal at this level soon after and was the reserve team's main striker two seasons ago, scoring five times in his 20 appearances. He turned pro in March 2005 However last year, he was increasingly utilised in midfield and totalled four goals.

A tidy player, Phil (along with older brother James who at the time was at Chelsea) answered a request to play for Philippines Under 23s, his qualification coming via his mother, and he has since become a full international. He has joined Esbjerg in the Danish Superliga on loan until the end of 2007.

Born 3/5/89 in Barreiro, Portugal.

Signed in the summer of 2005 from Sporting Lisbon, Fabio is a Portugal Under 19 international who plays wide on the right but can also play down the middle. He turned pro in July 2006 having impressed with his pace in the reserves during the second half of his first season here.

He played 12 times in the reserves last campaign, frequently on the right of a front three.

Born 19/10/89 in Nitra, Slovakia.
A Slovakian Under 18 international who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2006 and signed professional a year later. Accomplished with either foot and with a low centre of gravity, Miroslav can play as a second striker or wide in a front three and enjoys taking defender on.

He was the youth team's top scorer last campaign with nine goals from 20+6 appearance as well as two after breaking into the reserves. Enjoyed a lively pre-season tournament in Malaysia and continued scoring form into the new campaign.

Born 25/2/89 in Hammersmith, London.
Now in his third year, Shaun has been at Chelsea since the Under 12 age group and signed professional last summer.
Quick and well-built, he began his time in the Chelsea youth team as a striker or wide-right player and was given his first reserve action as early as September of his first scholar year.

However his position on the pitch is evolving and he has frequently played at right-back although front runner duties were restored at the beginning of this season. Played regularly in both the reserve and youth teams last season.

Born 10/8/89 in Holon, Israel.
A rapid rise to prominence for the centre-forward who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2006 was ensured when in February 2007 he became both Chelsea and Israel's youngest international ever at the age of 17. Next month he made more records by becoming our youngest international goalscorer with two goals against Estonia.

In the January before, Ben had made his Chelsea debut as a sub against Macclesfield in the FA Cup and his Premiership debut later that month against Wigan. In total he made four sub appearance during the campaign.

His previous club was Hapoel Tel-Aviv and his time in London began well with four goals in his first five youth team games and a first start in the reserves as early as September. He finished with a reserve total of six goals from 15+1 game (making him top appearance maker) and began this season on loan at QPR although the start was interrupted by an appendix operation.

Born 7/4/1989 in Mendoza, Argentina.

The Argentine forward joined Chelsea as an 18-year-old in January, having previously played for Chilean side Audax Italiano La Florida SADP for whom he appeared as a sub in the semi-final of Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent to the Champions League. He totalled 13 goals in 35 starts over the last two seasons there.

Franco signed a four-and-a-half year contract and is an Argentina Under 20 international.

Tall, he describes his style as similar to a former Chelsea striker from the same origin - Hernán Crespo.