Who is Callum Hudson-Odoi: Chelsea’s teenage World Cup winner to shine under new manager Maurizio Sarri

HE’S not yet old enough to legally enter a night club or drink alcohol but Chelsea’s lightning quick teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi is showing some serious moves on the pitch.

Manager Maurizio Sarri has promised him a first team role next season, teammate Cesar Azpilicueta is impressed and Champions League winner Michael Essien thinks he could go on to become a club great.

But who exactly is 17-year-old Hudson-Odoi, the London-born forward with a World Cup winner’s medal, a box of tricks capable of bamboozling established Premier League defenders and a host of top European clubs after him?

Chelsea lad since the age of six

The 17-year-old is blessed with pace and agility and can play across the front three or operating from the left of an attacking midfield.

Part of the Blues set up since 2007, he has played a key role in Chelsea’s recent dominance of England’s youth football scene.

In May, they beat Manchester United 3-0 – with Hudson-Odoi setting up the opening goal – to complete the domestic quadruple of league and cup successes.

That came days after he scored twice and created another as Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-0 to win the FA Youth Cup 7-1 on aggregate.

Speaking after that win, under-18s coach and former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris said: “He’s still got a lot to do. He’ll get a lot of plaudits because he showed in glimpses that he’s got real, real quality, but he also showed in other glimpses that he needs to mature, to follow instructions.”

Room to grow but Hudson-Odoi’s youth team days are certainly numbered with the senior team beckoning.

Pre-season breakthrough

Hudson-Odoi was already on the radar of previous head coach Antonio Conte who called him up to train with the first team squad last season and handed him his first-team debut in January’s FA Cup clash with Newcastle.

A first Premier League appearance came later that month, in a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth.

But it is this summer where the teenager has started to make himself known to wider fans, starting Chelsea’s three pre-season games against Perth Glory, Inter Milan and Arsenal.

The last game was his best yet with the young winger dazzling in Dublin, and making the normally rapid Hector Bellerin look more park runner than sprint star.

The return of Eden Hazard following his extended World Cup break will see Hudson-Odoi pushed back down the pecking order slightly – although this Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Manchester City could be another stage for him to dazzle on.

Blues protecting their asset

Chelsea have a history of farming youth players out on loan with many never to even pull on a senior Blues shirt.

But in Hudson-Odoi, club chiefs know they have a valuable asset among their ranks, capable of starring in the first team.

Assistant coach Gianfranco Zola is a long-time admirer while new head coach Sarri has already confirmed he will be staying with the squad next season.

He said: “Hudson-Odoi is a very young player, we have to wait.

“In the future he will be a very, very strong player for sure. He will stay with us (in the senior squad) for the season.”

With Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Monaco all sniffing around, the club have offered their star man a lucrative five-year contract.

He bagged 21 goals in 30 games across various age groups last season with teammate Azpilicueta also among his growing fan club.

He said: “I know that he still has room to improve. He is 17, he can go really far and I’m sure that, if he keeps his head, with the way he is working and performing he will be very good.”

International success

Hudson-Odoi is eligible for both England and Ghana although Three Lions fans will be glad to hear he has already tasted success for their national team.

The Wandsworth-born player played a crucial role as England lifted the Under-17 World Cup in 2017, including providing a hat-trick of assists in the 5-2 thumping of Spain in the final.

That was sweet revenge for earlier in the year when Spain beat England on penalties in the Under-17 European Championship final – Hudson-Odoi scoring in normal time as the sides drew 2-2.

His international success caught the eye of former Ghana and Chelsea star Michael Essien who would no doubt love to see him play for his own country.

“He needs to keep working harder to realise his dreams and I believe he can become one of the greatest footballers in Chelsea’s history if he continues working hard and taking up his chances.”

Footballing family

Callum is not the only Hudson-Odoi with footballing connections – older brother Bradley joined Fulham at the age of 12 but never played for the first team.

He has since journeyed around the lower leagues with the striker currently playing for National League South outfit Wealdstone FC.

The duo’s father Bismark was also a professional player, appearing for Ghanaian side Hearts of Oak.