‘Chelsea has been my home’

CHELSEA academy starlet Ato Ampah has penned an emotional goodbye to the club on social media after nine years at Cobham.

The talented winger, who plays primarily on the right-hand side, joined Stoke City on a permanent deal during a busy deadline day at Stamford Bridge.

The move for the 19-year-old holds a value of up to £3million.

He joins Stoke as they push for promotion back to the Premier League this season, with the club also bringing in former Cobham boy Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as further wing reinforcement on loan.

Ex-Chelsea wonderkid Lewis Baker is also at Stoke.

Ampah has been a key member of Chelsea‘s youth team that has been firing on all cylinders this season.

HELL YAH

‘Thankful for the journey’ – Chelsea star says goodbye to fans after seven years

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He’s racked up four goals and six assists in 13 appearances in all competitions, and looked a really promising player in the Uefa Youth League against Barcelona, with SunSport keeping a close eye on the young talent.

He’s strong on the ball physically, despite not being the tallest, and has seriously impressive dribbling technique with a powerful strike to boot.

If he can develop his end product and finishing, he will be a real threat for Stoke.

The youngster, alongside two pictures of himself – one signing for the Blues aged 10, and one from his professional debut – bid an emotional goodbye to his boyhood club on Instagram.

He said: “From the age of 10 to making my professional debut, Chelsea has been my home.

“Thank you to every coach, staff member, and teammate who played a part in my journey and growth, on and off the pitch.”

Alongside a blue heart emoji, he added: “Forever grateful.”

Ampah was given his professional debut in the Conference League by Enzo Maresca last season.

Wearing the number 55, he was a second-half substitute in the 3-1 victory over Astana in Kazakhstan, replacing Pedro Neto on the right-hand side for the Blues.

Saying goodbye to an academy starlet, Chelsea released a statement on his departure.

It read: “Ato Ampah has completed a permanent transfer to Championship club Stoke City.

“Joining the Blues aged 10, Ampah developed through our Academy at Cobham and made his Under-18s debut during the 2021/22 campaign.

“The winger continued to feature for our youth team over the following two seasons, helping the Blues win the Under-18 Premier League southern section at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

“Ampah stepped up to the Under-21s during the 2024/25 season and made his first-team debut when introduced as a substitute in our Conference League victory over Astana in Kazakhstan.

“Having previously featured for England Under-18s, Ampah made the step up and represented England Under-20s at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

“We thank Ato for his efforts throughout his time at Chelsea and wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his career.”

Plenty of Ampah’s team-mates throughout the Cobham pathway wished him well with Under-21s captain and fellow wonderkid Shim Mheuka saying: “Smash it bro”.

Reggie Walsh, Kiano Dyer, and first-teamer Josh Acheampong all commented with hearts, as did Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, new Ipswich loanee Frankie Runham, Genesis Antwi, and Milan deadline day signing Yahya Idrissi.

Ollie Harrison said: “All the best”.

Chelsea fans also wished Ampah on his way.

One wrote on X: “Good luck Ato”.

Another said simply: “show dem”.

Someone else replied: “All the best on your next journey young man!”

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