Fans have reacted wildly after news broke that Chelsea had kicked Josh Acheampong out of training.
The highly-rated defender has been exiled from first-team or development squad training until he signs a new contract.
Why Chelsea has exiled Acheampong
Acheampong's current contract runs until 2026, and Chelsea is looking to tie him down to a long-term contract amid interest from other clubs.
The 18-year-old right-back is thought of highly in West London, but the treatment he has gotten has rubbed fans the wrong way.
Acheampong has only been named in Enzo Maresca's side twice this season despite the club considering him their third-option right-back after Reece James and Malo Gusto.
This is Josh Acheampong, the 18-year-old Chelsea are isolating from playing football.#CFC pic.twitter.com/tn21i0fchO
— Tom Coley (@tomcoley49) October 22, 2024
How many minutes has Acheampong played this season?
He was not included in Chelsea's games against Bournemouth and West Ham despite the aforementioned two missing out with injury.
Maresca opted to use centre-backs Axel Disasi and Wesley Fofana in that position.
His only minutes in the senior squad this season came against Barrow AFC, where he was given 27 minutes.
He has also been sidelined from Chelsea's U21 squad since September 27, which means he hasn't featured for the Blues for almost a month.
🚨 I can confirm a story from earlier today: Chelsea have no intention of playing or including Josh Acheampong in an important way in the squad until he signs a new deal.
— Chelsea Dodgers (@TheBlueDodger) October 22, 2024
Chelsea feel many clubs have started approaching him!
(@FabrizioRomano) #CFC pic.twitter.com/9ZLMMT4aW7
The Athletic has been told that the omission is a result of the contract negotiations.
The defender has been told he will not play again until a way forward is agreed on.
It is not the first time Chelsea is treating an academy graduate harshly, with recent cases of Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher quickly coming to mind.
The Independent has previously reported that Real Madrid and Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing the defender.
