Playing in the Premier League is no mean feat and only a fraction of upcoming footballers actually end up featuring in the top flight.
Chelsea are a club who have a history of blooding young players through and handing them opportunities in the first-team, especially in recent years since the 2019 transfer embargo. However, the Blues can also be busy in the market and sign players to improve their squad.
While some go on to have lengthy careers at Stamford Bridge, others often fail to impress and don't spend much time in the senior set-up at the club. So, with that in mind, here is a look at the 21 players who have just made one Premier League appearance for Chelsea.
Ethan Ampadu
Having come through the ranks at Exeter City, Ampadu earned himself a move to Chelsea in 2017 after impressing in Devon. Later that year, the Welshman made his Premier League bow as a substitute against Huddersfield Town, before then penning a new five-year deal.
Ampadu would find first-team opportunities limited under Maurizio Sarri and was shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig, before having further loan spells at Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia.
Faustino Anjorin
A talented winger, Anjorin is currently out on loan at Huddersfield after making his league debut in 2019/20. The 21-year-old came on as a late substitute in a 4-0 win over Everton in March 2020 - the Blues' final top-flight game before football was suspended due to Covid-19. After spending a short time in Russia, Anjorin is now with the Terriers.
Jeremie Boja
Boja started his professional career at the Blues but would feature just once for the club in the Premier League, starting their opening game against Burnley in 2017/18. Since, the Ivory Coast international spent time out on loan at Rennes, Granada and Birmingham, before leaving on a permanent deal to join Sassuolo. Now, Boja plies his trade at Atalanta.
Isaiah Brown
Having burst through the ranks at Chelsea, Brown has had quite the decline since his Premier League debut in May 2015. The 25-year-old is currently a free agent after leaving Preston North End at the end of last season, where he made just a single appearance for the club. Brown has also played for the likes of Leeds and Brighton in his career.
Jake Clarke-Salter
The no-nonsense centre-back, Clarke-Salter has made one Premier League appearance for Chelsea, coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Aston Villa in April 2016. John Terry hoped he could replicate him one day, but his career has gone the other way and Clarke-Salter is now at QPR, having also featured for Birmingham and Coventry.
Neil Clement
The 44-year-old's only top-flight match for Chelsea came in a 3-1 victory against West Ham in December 1996, before departing three years later after loans at Reading, Preston, West Brom and Brentford. Clement joined the Baggies permanently and spent eight years at the Hawthorns, scoring 21 goals in 256 league appearances.
Nick Colgan
The Irish goalkeeper went on to have a long career in the game after making his only league appearance for the Blues in a 3-2 defeat at West Ham in 1997. Colgan ended his career at Huddersfield 16 years later, having played over 300 senior matches.
Lucas Piazon
Having started his professional career in his native Brazil, Chelsea beat a number of high-profile clubs to his signature in 2012. However, Piazon's only league game for the Blues came in December 2012 as Chelsea thrashed Aston Villa 8-0. Piazon didn't fulfil his potential at Stamford Bridge and spent time out on loan before leaving on a permanent deal to join Braga in 2021.
Anthony Grant
The Jamaican international has had a topsy-turvy career ever since coming through the Chelsea academy and appearing in the top flight for the first time against Manchester United. That was quite the stage for Grant to make his professional bow, but he hasn't quite reached the same heights since leaving the club. After stints at the likes of Southend United and Stevenage, Grant is now at Scunthorpe United.
Lewis Hall
One of the youngest members on this list, Hall made his Premier League debut from the start in the Blues' trip to Newcastle United back in November. However, Chelsea have only played once in the top flight since and the 18-year-old didn't feature in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth last time out.
Tariq Lamptey
Many suggest letting Lamptey through their grasps was a missed opportunity for Chelsea after the Ghanaian impressed on his Premier League debut against Arsenal. However, Lamptey joined Brighton on a three-and-a-half-year contract in January 2020 and the right-back has since played 66 times, scoring twice.
Steve Livingstone
Livingstone is the second oldest member on this list and the 53-year-old made his Premier League bow for Chelsea in 1993 as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat by United. The forward retired in 2004 after suffering a serious injury while playing for Carlisle United after a historic time with Grimsby Town, where he played over 200 times.
Mineiro
A former Brazil international, Mineiro had a bizarre career having played for eight clubs, with the midfielder joining Chelsea in 2008 as a back-up for Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel. He made a single top-flight appearance, before signing for Schalke in the Bundesliga. The 47-year-old retired in 2012 after playing in the fourth tier of German football.
Ian Pearce
Now head of recruitment at West Bromwich Albion, Pearce started his senior career at Chelsea but failed to gain many first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge and ended up leaving to join Blackburn in 1993. Pearce made his name at Rovers and West Ham, where he clocked in over 300 appearances in the end.
Gerry Peyton
The 66-year-old clocked in hundreds of games for Bournemouth and Fulham in the 70s and 80s, before he was loaned to Chelsea in 1993 as they needed an emergency goalkeeper. Peyton retired in 1994 and has since coached at Arsenal, Fulham and most recently at Odisma.
Graham Rix
Rix is recognised as an Arsenal legend, having lifted the FA Cup and made 351 league appearances for the Gunners over an illustrious spell at Highbury. However, Rix played his last senior game for Chelsea during his time as a coach at the club after a mini-injury crisis.
Joe Sheerin
A product of the Chelsea academy, Sheerin turned professional in 1996 and made his league debut a year later as a substitute for Gianfranco Zola in a win over Wimbledon. He left Chelsea in February 2000, joining Bournemouth but later moved to Wimbledon, where he enjoyed his highest success, scoring 35 times in 85 appearances for the newly-formed side.
Jimmy Smith
Smith made his first-team debut in May 2006 - but like a lot of players on this list, it turned out to be his final appearance for Chelsea. The midfielder then became a well-known EFL footballer for the likes of Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Crawley Town and Sheffield Wednesday. He last played for Grays Athletic last season.
John Swift
The West Bromwich Albion midfielder is a talented player but he never made it further than one Premier League game for Chelsea after coming through the ranks. Swift replaced Eden Hazard against Cardiff City in 2014, before going on to represent Rotherham United, Swindon Town, Brentford, Reading and now West Brom.
Steven Watt
After making his league debut for Chelsea against Newcastle in May 2005, Watt joined Swansea a matter of months later and he went on to have a long career in the game. The former Scotland youth international donned the likes of Grimsby, Barnsley and Maidstone United before moving into coaching.
