Mheuka Coming Of Age At Chelsea

It is just two years ago that Shumaira Mheuka was signed from Brighton Hove Academy to Chelsea as a 15-year-old but has immediately made the step up and is now a regular in the Development squad after standing out in the age group football.

The talented 17-year-old striker however came of age with his first-team breakthrough for Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League victory against Astana on Thursday.

Mheuka played 12 minutes after being introduced in the final quarter of an hour for Marc Guiu and played with confidence and flair as they went on to win 3-1 against Astana in the fifth round of the Conference League.

The Birmingham-born center forward’s debut in Kazakhstan which burnished a true coming-of-age performance will undoubtedly force Enzo Maresca to consider Mheuka as a reliable option moving forward.

His eye for goal and the ability to hold up possession blend technical finesse with tactical discipline is what sets him apart.

The former Brighton Hove standout talent scored 12 goals in 20 matches for Chelsea Under-18s last season and has quickly established himself as a key figure in attack for the Under-21s after scoring his debut goal against Fulham in October. He has already made 10 appearances so far for the Premier League 2 side.

At 17 years old two months Mheuka became Chelsea’s fifth-youngest debutant since 1991 after Michael Woods, Ian Pearce, Ethan Ampadu, and Dominic Solanke. And he is the second youngest player to feature in a European match, following Dominic Solanke.

He had been a key figure for the England Under-17s before a jump to the Under-19s where he already scored two goals for the young Three Lions, but is eligible to represent Zimbabwe his heritage home.