EPL: Pochettino set to fast-track Nigeria-eligible youngster’s integration into Chelsea first team

Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and Axel Disasi were enough to seal a 6-1 win over Middlesbrough for Mauricio Pochetinno’s Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea’s head coach, Mauricio Pochetinno is set to fast-track the integration of Landon Emenalo into the senior team, Soccernet.ng reports.

Landon Emenalo, 16, is the son of former Nigerian left-back, Michael Emenalo, who played for the Super Eagles on fourteen occasions, featuring at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Michael Emenalo retired in 2006 and became an integral part of Chelsea’s success, first as an assistant manager, before becoming the club’s technical director in 2011.

His tenure as the Technical director saw the success of the club in the transfer window and scouting department, with the Nigerian heavily involved in the signature of hit signings like David Luiz, Eden Hazard, Mohammed Salah, Cesc Fabregas and Thibaut Courtois.

Emenalo moved on to Monaco in 2017 to help with their rebuild after the sale of Bernardo Silva, Fabinho and Kylian Mbappe. He moved to the Saudi Pro League at the start of the 2023/2024 season after he was appointed as the director of football for the league.

According to The Sun, Landon Emenalo, who plays as a midfielder, is said to be highly thought of within the club’s Cobham academy.

This has prompted the Chelsea bosses to try and give him a push in his development by getting him to train with the first team following his 16th birthday last week.

Described as a versatile left-footer, Emenalo has featured in various roles across central midfield. He has played as a holding midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder and as a number ten.

The 16-year-old was born in London and has featured for the Youth Teams of the United States of America and England, and is eligible to play for the Super Eagles in the future due to his father.