Chelsea youngster Xavier Mbuyamba promoted to first-team

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has promoted talented youngster Xavier Mbuyamba into first-team training.

With a host of senior players away on international duty, Tuchel has given the 19-year-old an opportunity to impress in training, as reported by The Daily Express.

Mbuyamba subsequently revealed on Instagram that his involvement with the squad has given him extra motivation.

He wrote: ‘A moment I’ve been working towards since joining this incredible club. @ChelseaFC.

‘Truly blessed to be training with the first team this week. Lots to learn and my motivation is on another level right now!’.

The highly-regarded centre-back has previously been capped by Holland at Under-19 level.

Mbuyamba started out at MVV Maastricht’s academy and went on to make eleven senior appearances for the Dutch club before joining Barcelona in 2019.

During his time at Barcelona Mbuyamba trained with the first-team and featured for the club at youth level prior to signing for Chelsea in August 2020, when Frank Lampard was still manager.

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Mbuyamba’s first season at Chelsea was overshadowed by a torn meniscus injury which required surgery.

However, he was heavily involved for the Blues’ U23 side in the last five games of last season and has started all three games at that level so far this campaign, starting the game against Manchester United.