Cole Palmer inspires Chelsea’s young star to score second hat-trick of the season

Chelsea wonderkid Shumaira Mheuka continues to shine in Youth Ranks

Chelsea’s academy has long been a breeding ground for top footballing talent, and it appears another star is on the rise.

At just 17 years old, Shumaira Mheuka is delivering the kind of performances that suggest he may soon follow the path of Cobham graduates into the senior spotlight.

The Blues’ youth setup remains a luxury for the club, producing elite prospects year after year. Last season, Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George stepped up from the Under-21s into first-team contention, joining the likes of Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and Levi Colwill in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

This campaign, Mheuka has emerged as the standout performer across Chelsea’s youth sides. His rapid progress already earned him a senior debut, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup clash against Lincoln City in September.

Midfielder Romeo Lavia had previously tipped the young striker for greatness, and his form suggests that prediction may be right on the money.

Mheuka scores in Palmer's presence

On Tuesday, the Chelsea U19S showcased their quality with a 5-2 win over Benfica in the UEFA Youth League and Mheuka was the star attraction.

Leading by example as captain, the centre-forward struck a stunning hat-trick, confidently dispatching two penalties and finishing clinically in open play.

Watching on at Cobham was first-team star Cole Palmer, sidelined through injury, who later made his way to Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea’s senior side edge Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League.