When you're being described as the 'next Jadon Sancho', you must be a pretty special.
That label has been given to Charlie Webster, an 18-year-old making his way through Chelsea's ranks. The English midfielder is regarded as one of the best youngsters in the club's academy and has many admirers, including Manchester City hero Kevin De Bruyne.
It is believed Webster is close to agreeing a new contract at Stamford Bridge and that's good news for Chelsea fans, as Borussia Dortmund have been monitoring his progress. The German giants have a reputation for signing the best young players in Europe.
Born in Hampshire, Webster has been on Chelsea's books since U10 level after a spell in the Pezzaz Street Soccer Academy, an advanced coaching school for children who've been identified as having the potential to become a footballer from a very young age.
Players as young as four are snapped up by the academy and several youngsters have gone on to get contracts at the likes of Fulham, Oxford, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bristol City and Reading. Webster is already regarded as one of Pezzaz's success stories.
After all, the teenager is now described by Chelsea's website as a "mainstay in the development squad set-up". He's excelled in the U18 Premier League, scoring six goals and providing six assists in 27 outings. He's also scored three goals in eight FA Youth Cup games.
Have you seen Charlie Webster play for Chelsea? Let us know in the comments below!
Webster made his professional debut last October when he started Chelsea's EFL Trophy fixture against League One side Cheltenham at Whaddon Road, which the hosts won on penalties. He held his own against the senior pros while playing in an advanced role.
The midfielder has also featured in the EFL Trophy this season, starting and finishing the 2-1 win against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. He played in a holding role on that occasion, which suggests his position remains undecided.
Impressing KDB
One of Webster's finest moments as an academy star came in May 2019 when he featured for Chelsea in the Kevin De Bruyne Cup. The Belgium international was the star guest at the tournament named in his honour and got the chance to see Webster in action.
The Blues youngster, then playing at U15 level, stood out against top youngsters from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain to be named as the tournament's Best Player. He received a signed De Bruyne top and a trophy for his efforts.
"Obviously, it's to play for this brilliant club," said Webster when asked about his future at the KDB Cup. As it stands, his contract will expire in June - putting clubs on red alert. As reported by The Sun in May 2020, Dortmund are following his progress.
Yet Chelsea are expected to tie him down to a long-term deal. His admiration for the club is obvious and it's clear Graham Potter appreciates him too, as he's appeared in first-team training. Former boss Thomas Tuchel also invited him to train with the senior stars.
In terms of international football, Webster has represented England at several levels and currently features for the U19s. One of the proudest moments of his young career came a few years ago when he captained England's U16s against Republic of Ireland.
Webster still has a long way to go before he follows in the footsteps of Reece James, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Conor Gallagher, Fikayo Tomori and others, yet the early signs are promising. He might just be Chelsea's next wonderkid.
