Chelsea have cruised through this season’s Europa Conference League with such ease that it’s given them the freedom to hand valuable minutes to some of their emerging talents along the way.Their 4-1 dismantling of Djurgarden in the first leg of the semi-final on Thursday all but secured their place in the final — and provided the perfect stage for 16-year-old Reggie Walsh to make his senior bow.ECL: Thursday has been Chelsea’s party time and playground week after weekDespite still being ineligible for a professional contract until he turns 17 in October, Walsh has etched his name into the club’s history books as Chelsea’s third-youngest player ever, trailing only Ian Hamilton and Kingsley Whiffen, both of whom debuted back in 1967. Walsh came off the bench at the 3Arena just over six months after his 16th birthday and nearly marked the occasion with a goal, narrowly missing the target with his very first touch.When asked by BBC Sport about his decision to introduce the teenager, who impressed instantly, Chelsea boss Maresca responded:”He’s very young, but in the way we want to play, in our way, in our style, he’s perfect. But he’s still very young, he needs to learn, he needs to work hard and he needs to grow for sure.”Reggie Walsh, the youngest player to make an appearance for @ChelseaFC since 1967 👏The 16-year-old came off the bench in their Conference League semi-final win against Djurgarden! pic.twitter.com/jLaAYMiLkG— PL Youth (@PLYouth) May 2, 2025 Talking about Walsh’s GCSE’s, Maresca added: “This is the most important thing for him at this moment, no doubt!”A naturally talented midfielder, Walsh has spent the bulk of this season turning out for Chelsea’s under-18s, where he’s made an impact with four goals and a couple of assists across 15 appearances. He’s also stepped up twice to feature for the under-21s, showing steady progression through the ranks.A young player himself, Nicolas Jackson had great things to say about Reggie Walsh after the 16-year-old midfielder made his senior debut 💙🎥: @footballontnt pic.twitter.com/kolyOGBexp— The Chelsea Spot (@TheChelseaSpot) May 1, 2025 Having joined the club as a seven-year-old, Walsh is a true product of the Cobham academy. Raised in west London, he’s worn the England shirt at every level from under-15 to under-17, highlighting his growing reputation on the national stage as well.Just before his senior debut, manager Enzo Maresca was seen leaning in to share a few quiet words with him. After the match, Maresca explained his message: “I told him to enjoy it, stay positive, and just play the same way he does in training every day.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8901315##
