Chelsea have announced that four academy players will leave the club when their contracts expire on June 30, as preparations for new manager Xabi Alonso get underway. The Blues published their retained list on Wednesday, confirming the departures of Jimi Tauriainen, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Richard Olise and Brodi Hughes.
Tauriainen, who joined Chelsea in 2020, made his first-team debut in the FA Cup fifth round against Leeds United in 2024 and later appeared as a substitute in the Premier League against Tottenham. Despite these appearances, the Finnish youngster has not been offered a new contract.
Rak-Sakyi, an academy product since the age of eight, featured four times for the senior side and contributed to Chelsea's Conference League success under Enzo Maresca in the 2024/25 campaign. Olise, younger brother of Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, leaves after more than a decade at Cobham without making a first-team appearance. Hughes also departs without a senior outing.
Academy striker Ronnie Stutter will remain at Stamford Bridge on a month-to-month deal. The club's statement thanked the departing players for their contributions and wished them well for the future.
Alonso, set to take over this summer, said: 'Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.'
