Throughout our pre-season tour, we will hear firsthand from the Chelsea Academy players who have travelled with the squad. Today it's the turn of 17-year-old winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, who made his debut for the Blues last season...

You learn quickly from being around the senior players every day. The standards are so high, and you’ve got to match them. It’s what is expected at Chelsea.

I’ve enjoyed my first tour. The environment around the team hotel and in training has been good. Everyone has made us younger players feel welcome and Cole and Tosin, in particular, have been really helpful for me.

They’ve given me advice and just reminded me to appreciate this experience. Seeing how the senior players behave, off the pitch as much as on it, has been a good eye-opener. It pushes you on because you want to be in their shoes one day.


You know, I was around the first team a bit last season, but I feel more comfortable in the group now. When you’re together every day, you bond with people more. It helps you feel more comfortable on the pitch.

Making my debut last season was a proud moment. Not just for me, but for my family. They have always supported me and got me to where I am today. The trips to Cobham for training, the early mornings watching matches on the Academy pitches…I definitely owe them petrol money!

I’ll be honest, when I was standing there waiting to come on against Port Vale, I was nervous. It was a lot of work to get to that point. But once I got on the pitch, the nerves went and the noise was blocked out.

I was just focused on showing what I can do – and I want that feeling again. I kind of had it in the Under-18 Premier League national final. We faced Manchester City and, to be honest, we wanted revenge for what happened in the Youth Cup.

We played a great game in front of a good crowd at Stamford Bridge. It was tough, but to win 5-1 was special. I got two…the last coming so late in the game. I didn’t think the referee was ever going to blow for full-time!

Ending the season with a trophy felt good. Lifting it at Stamford Bridge was even better. I’ve watched a lot of games there and seen some great players represent this club. Obviously, as a young winger, one that I always loved was Eden Hazard.


What a player. I would see him do things in matches and then look to add it into my game. Same for Cristiano Ronaldo. They are two players I really looked up to growing up.

Obviously, we’ve got another great former player now as our manager. He is top and has helped us younger players a lot. He wants to see us do well and progress. We’re all grateful for giving us the experience of coming on this tour. – and I've really enjoyed it.