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Chelsea 17-year-old could become one of club's youngest ever players in Carabao Cup
Ethan Ampadu could become one of the youngest players in Chelsea’s history on Wednesday night – even though the club are yet to agree a compensation deal with Exeter City for the teenager.
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte confirmed that Ampadu, who turned 17 last week, is in his squad for the Carabao Cup clash against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge.
Ian Hamilton, who made his first-team debut aged 16 years and 138 days in 1967, remains Chelsea’s youngest-ever player, but Ampadu will enter the top 10 youngest of all time if he appears against Forest.
Ampadu elected to join Chelsea in the summer, having made his first-team debut for League Two Exeter as a 15-year-old in the League Cup last August and played 13 times for the senior side.
He turned down interest from Arsenal to join Chelsea, even though his father Kwame played for the Gunners and is currently head coach of the club’s Under-18s.
However, Chelsea are yet to agree a compensation package with Exeter, who have been demanding £3million for the youngster, with the transfer fee likely to be settled by a tribunal.
Asked if Ampadu, who has been training with Chelsea’s first team this season and can play in midfield or defence, will be in his squad to face Forest, Conte said: “Yes. He is a young player, but I think he has good quality.
“He has good prospects to become a Chelsea player. He's strong physically, good technique and personality. Yes, I think we have to continue to work with him and to try and improve him, to bring him to the next step.”
Ampadu was included in Chris Coleman’s Wales squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Moldova last month, having previously been included in a number of training camps. But Conte is not concerned about too much pressure being put on Ampadu too soon.
“I don't think that, if your national team calls you up and you are 15 or 16 years old, it puts pressure on you,” said Conte. “You must be proud of this. But, for sure, he has to work a lot to deserve another call-up to the national team.
“We must be pleased because this player is a Chelsea player and now it's important to work very well with him and try and improve his weaknesses. But he's a young player and I'm sure he's a good prospect for Chelsea.”
Amapdu is one of a number of young players who will be involved against Forest. Charly Musonda will start, while Jake Clarke-Salter and Dujon Sterling could get a chance.
But Conte has warned he will not be trying to do any of Chelsea’s youngsters a favour, saying: “I don't care if one player is a young player or an old player. If a player, an old player, 36 years old, makes me happy and helps me to win, I pick him. It's the same if a player, a young player, 16 years old, helps me to win, I'm ready to do this also.
“Don't forget that my first appearance in Serie A was when I was 16. I think I'm the first person to trust in the young players, to give possibilities to them, if young players deserve this chance. If the young players give me the possibility to win. I want to win. I don't want to lose.”
Kenedy is set to make his first Chelsea appearance since being sent home from the club’s pre-season tour of China and Singapore for a series of inappropriate social media posts, while Eden Hazard will start his first game following ankle surgery.