A challenging situation has emerged for Chelsea as they find themselves in a frustrating contract standoff with their promising young talent, 18-year-old Josh Acheampong.

Until an agreement is reached, the talented right-back won’t see any action on the pitch.

Unexpected Turn in Negotiations

Initially, it seemed like Chelsea and Acheampong were on the same page regarding a new long-term contract.

The Premier League club believed they had a deal in place, so it came as a surprise when Acheampong opted not to finalize the agreement.

This unexpected turn has left the club puzzled, as they were eager to secure the future of one of their brightest academy stars.

Interest from Top Clubs

Acheampong’s potential has caught the attention of several European powerhouses, including Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool.

The latter had already caused a stir earlier in the season by signing another Cobham prospect, Rio Ngumoha, which only adds to Chelsea’s urgency to keep hold of Acheampong.

Limited Opportunities Ahead

Despite Chelsea’s intentions to retain him, Acheampong is currently sidelined and won’t participate in matches for the Under-21s or the first team under coach Enzo Maresca.

He did see action in the Carabao Cup against Barrow last month, but that seems to be on hold for now.

Supporter Expectations

Fans have high hopes for Acheampong, especially after seeing him included in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States.

The club believes there’s a clear path for academy players to break into the senior squad, with success stories like Reece James and Levi Colwill paving the way.

Missing from the Lineup

However, the situation has raised eyebrows recently, as Acheampong was notably absent from the match-day squad in recent games, even when both right-back options—James and Malo Gusto—were injured.

Instead of utilizing Acheampong, Chelsea’s head coach resorted to using center-backs in those positions.