Our Teenage Kicks series gets to know the Academy boys making their mark at Cobham as they kick off their careers in blue.

Hassan Sulaiman’s Under-18s return to action this weekend after the October international break - and what better way to get going again than a London derby against Spurs at home, live for free on Chelsea Official App and website?

One player ready to pick up where he left off is Chizaram Ezenwata, fresh from international duty with England Under-18s and back at Cobham in red-hot form.

The young striker has made a flying start to the season, scoring eight goals in six appearances across all competitions. Six of those goals have come in the Under-18 Premier League, while he’s also gained experience with the Under-21s in the EFL Vertu Trophy and featured in the Under-19s' UEFA Youth League squad.

Ezenwata joined Chelsea from Charlton Athletic as an Under-15 and signed his scholarship in July, just before the 2025/26 season kicked off. It’s been a whirlwind few months for the forward, but he’s hungry to keep the momentum going, and Saturday’s derby against Spurs offers the perfect stage.

Get to know our striker a little better below...

What are your biggest strengths?

'I’d say my biggest strengths are finishing, using my body well and holding off defenders. I like being physical, getting in the right positions and making sure I make those chances count.

'Scoring goals is one of my favourite aspects of play. I can never really describe how it feels, but it's just amazing! It makes you want to keep pushing and be more ambitious to continue working hard and progressing.'

What are you most looking forward to developing more this season?

'This season, I really want to sharpen my finishing even more and grow my overall game intelligence. I think I've started well, but there's always more you can do.

'It’s about learning with every match and becoming more complete as a player. I always want to keep developing and pushing my game further to become the best version of myself on the pitch.'

What's your favourite thing about being a striker?

'I love being a striker. I feel most natural in that position, it's where I can do damage and score goals.

'Like I've said, I love getting the goals! Not only for myself but for the team. Every goal is to help the team push forward and get the three points, or if it's a cup game, progress. We are all very team-driven, which is why I think we have been doing really well.'

What is your favourite type of fixture?

'I love London derbies! They always feel different. There’s more energy, more meaning and you can feel it in the atmosphere. It’s not just another game, there is more at stake for sure!'

Who would you say you look up to?

'I look up to players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. They’re different types of players, but I take inspiration from both. I see parts of their game that I try to bring into mine.

'I like the technical side of Mbappe and the way he makes things look so effortless. Then, Haaland is just a machine! He's physical and makes goal scoring look easy. I like to watch them and I'm always entertained when watching both players, it's never boring.'

Who are your role models?

'My family play a major role in everything. In particular, my dad. He was the one driving me to training when I was younger, always supporting me. Family’s played a massive part in getting me here. Every day I do everything I can and bring my all for them.'

What do you do in your free time away from football?

'One of my biggest hobbies is music. I play the piano, guitar and I love to sing. It's my favourite hobby away from the pitch.

'I think it's important to chill away from the pitch so you can feel reset and refreshed to go ahead and give my all in everything.'

Watch our London derby action!

Supporters around the world can tune in to Chelsea Under-18s vs Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 18 October, with kick-off at 11am at Cobham. The match will be streamed live on the official Chelsea app and website. To watch the stream, visit the homepage shortly before kick-off or follow in the Match Centre below.