Tyrique George is catching the world’s attention with his dazzling domination on and off the football pitch. As a result, he’s now become Chelsea’s youngest Premier League goalscorer since Callum Hudson-Odoi in January 2020. At only 19 years and 75 days old, George has already returned a significant dividend on the team’s investment. Last year, he produced 33 goals and assists combined last season and won multiple player of the match awards for his performances – including goal of the season nomination after his wonderful long range goal against Crystal Palace.
George, who turned 19 in February, is the latest academy product to shoot up the pecking order at Chelsea. At eight years old, he was accepted into the club’s development centre programme. Scouts spotted him playing for TFA Totteridge FC in Whetstone. During his formative years, he was industrious and was fired with indomitable spirit. He honed his craft at Unique FA, an elite academy, where he played against older, stronger players. It was this experience that honed his craftsman’s skills and prepared him for the titanic challenges that lay ahead.
In midweek, George trained with Chelsea and participated in nine-a-side matches against adult players at Vauxhall or Nine Elms Power League in South London. Looking back, his dedication to improvement stood out. Behind the scenes, Joe Shields, Chelsea’s director of recruitment and talent, has provided encouraging support as George navigates his burgeoning career.
This season, George has played in 21 matches in all competitions, tallying two goals and four assists. That performance and potential has made him an object of excitement and affection among fans and teammates. George has welcomed the opportunity to play against better competition. He takes inspiration from footballers such as Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke, Marc Cucurella and Tosin Adarabioyo.
On December 19, he received a promotion from the academy team to the first team. This accomplishment earned him his place in Chelsea’s future plans. He achieved that promotion, signing a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year. This transaction only adds to the club’s renewed faith in him.
One notable highlight to George’s journey is his unforgettable first meeting against Jadon Sancho in South London in 2017. He reminisced about this chance meeting, stating:
“It was me and my dad going to training. We saw Sancho with his friends and, with Sancho back then, I used to watch his highlights.” – Tyrique George
His father insisted that he should take the opportunity. This prompting led to a magical scene that would later become one of George’s favorite keepsakes. Reflecting on this experience, he admitted:
“My dad told me to get a picture, I was all nervous, but got the picture.” – Tyrique George
David ‘Guru’ Sobers, George’s coach, had an instrumental impact on George’s development. Sobers commented on the many hours they had all logged training together, some taking two-hour trips on public transport just to train in group sessions. He emphasized George’s relentless pursuit of perfection:
“I used to spend hours travelling on public transport to do two-hour sessions, or longer, with Tyrique as I thought I could help him.” – David ‘Guru’ Sobers
George’s growth as a player can directly be traced back to his tireless work ethic. Sobers observed:
“We would spend hours doing one-versus-one, technical work, shooting drills, and I enjoyed the fact that he would push himself so much. I’d be a ‘bad’ referee when he played against 18-year-olds, so he would get kicked – but have to get up and win the ball back.” – David ‘Guru’ Sobers
George is charting an inspiring course in his new professional career. He gets emotional thinking about the faith his coaches have shown in him. He said:
“Ty became unfazed by anything but it was on him how relentless he was at repetition and doing the fundamentals.” – David ‘Guru’ Sobers
As George continues to navigate his professional career, he expresses gratitude for the trust placed in him by his coaches. He said:
“The trust Enzo has in me gives me a great feeling. He knows me from training with him all season.” – Tyrique George
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