Sports Reporter
WARRIORS prospect Shumaira Mheuka has become one of the fast rising stars at English Premier Soccer League side, Chelsea.
Just a week after he was picked for the Next Generation 2024 — 20 best talents at Premier League Clubs, the young forward was included in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Panathinikos in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
The best talents list is compiled by the United Kingdom newspaper, The Guardian and it consists of best young players at each club born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008, an age band known as first-year scholars.
The 16-year-old striker has already been given a chance to play for Chelsea at Under-21 level. Mheuka was born to Zimbabwean parents, making him eligible to play for both England and Zimbabwe.
Shumaira Mheuka
He is the son of Malcolm Mheuka, who played in the local top-flight for Zimbabwe Saints and Circle Cement. Describing his abilities, the forward narrated to The Guardian saying: “My biggest strength is finishing, I love scoring goals.
“I also like the build-up and creating different opportunities, whether that’s for me or my teammates. I love driving on the ball and pushing up the pitch, using my strength and agility.”
Last year, Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni made it into the list, while in 2022 Wolves youngster Leon Chiwome was named among the top prospects.
The other player with Zimbabwean roots that has been named in the list before is Michael Ndiweni (2020). Mheuka has moved quickly through the ranks of the Chelsea Academy since joining the Blues from Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of his Under-14s season.
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Throughout the 2023/24 campaign, he was given regular appearances for the Under-18s, while still a schoolboy. He scored 12 goals in his 20 appearances for that side across all competitions, including his first Stamford Bridge appearance when he played in the Under-18 Premier League national final against Manchester United.
Mheuka was an important player for England in the summer’s European Under-17 Championship, scoring in their opener against Spain, and marked his first call-up for the Under-19s by finding the net against both France and the Netherlands earlier this month.
After going full-time as a scholar at Chelsea in the summer, the striker has become an important part of our Under-21s squad this season and netted his first goal at that level in the 6-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League 2 at the start of October. Despite featuring regularly for the Under-21s this season, Mheuka only recently turned 17, celebrating his birthday last Sunday.
Primarily a central striker, Mheuka has impressed with his eye for goal and ability to hold-up possession, despite being one of the youngest players on the pitch at Under-21s level.
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At times he has also been used a little deeper as a second-striker playing off a number nine. Originally from Birmingham, Mheuka started his Academy career at Brighton, before moving to Chelsea in 2022 at the end of his Under-14s season.
Although Mheuka is eligible for our Under-18s as a first-year scholar, and made one appearance for that team against Arsenal in August, he has primarily featured for our Under-21s this season. He has played nine games for Filipe Coelho’s side so far, starting six of them, and scored his first Premier League 2 goal in the 6-0 win over neighbours Fulham.
Mheuka is expected to take the jersey number 76 shirt for Chelsea this season, which he has also worn for our Under-21s in the EFL Trophy win against Bromley’s senior team.