Shim Mheuka transfer update with Xabi Alonso facing four-player Chelsea decision

A detailed look at some of Chelsea’s young stars who could be loaned out this summer ahead of the 2026/27 season

One of the benefits of Xabi Alonso not having the full Chelsea squad in recent weeks is the opportunity to work with some of the club’s brightest academy talents.

The Blues had a large number of players at the World Cup and there are still a few representing their nations in this weekend’s third/fourth-place play-off as well as the final. Those who featured for their country in the tournament are set to start their pre-season during the club’s four-country tour later this month/in early August.

While Alonso has not been able to work with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez or Reece James just yet, the Spaniard has been getting to know some of the club’s finest young talents. Among them include Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Shim Mheuka, Reggie Walsh, Landon Emenalo, Calvin Diakite, Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli and so on.

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Alonso will look to assess these players and who will next off Cobham’s conveyor belt. With that being said, football.london takes a look at a selection of academy stars who could be loaned out for the upcoming season:

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen

The 17-year-old winger is one of Chelsea’s most exciting young talents. Kavuma-McQueen, who has two years remaining on his contract at Cobham, made his first-team debut for the Blues in April – coming on as a late substitute in the 7-0 thumping of Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter final at Stamford Bridge.

Liam Rosenior had been keeping a close eye on Kavuma-McQueen after being told lots about him by Chelsea’s academy staff – including Calum McFarlane – and handed him his first-ever senior appearance. Rosenior got to see the winger in action a few weeks prior while attending the Blues’ FA Youth Cup defeat to Manchester City in February. It turned out to be a disappointing night for the young Chelsea side – losing 4-1 – but Kavuma-McQueen shone and scored his team’s only goal of the game.

Kavuma-McQueen’s name did the rounds on social media when he bagged a remarkable four goals – and one assist – in England Under-17s’ 7-5 victory over Germany last September. Not long after that, unsurprisingly, Kavuma-McQueen was promoted to first-team training under Enzo Maresca.

With such a talent on Chelsea’s hands, there has unsurprisingly been talk of the teenage winger’s next step – whether a loan move could be on the cards or if another season of academy football would prove more beneficial.

A decision, however, over whether he will be loaned out next season is yet to be made and it is difficult to say at the moment without Alonso’s full squad at his disposal. Sources say Kavuma-McQueen has been part of first-team training ever since Alonso’s first session earlier this month.

Shim Mheuka

There was some concern when Mheuka wasn’t spotted in any of the training pictures released by the club in the first few days of Alonso’s tenure at Cobham. However, the 18-year-old forward was involved on Wednesday afternoon with the rest of the first team, as well as a few of his academy colleagues, in the Surrey sunshine.

Mheuka is highly rated at Chelsea after an astonishing 2025/26 season where the teenage striker scored 17 goals in as many Premier League 2 appearances. The Cobham star also made four appearances for the first team over the course of the campaign.

He, however, is at a bit of a crossroads in relation to his future. Mheuka has less than 12 months remaining on his existing contract at Stamford Bridge – though there is thought to be an option of extending that by another year – and there is interest in his signature.

There are numerous clubs, sources say, from Europe’s top five leagues and the EFL in a loan deal for Mheuka for the upcoming season. Mheuka and his representatives are in continuous dialogue with Chelsea over a possible contract extension but there is no agreement in place just yet.

Ishe Samuels-Smith

After a disappointing loan spell at Swansea City last season, Samuels-Smith will be hoping for a more beneficial move away this time around. The 20-year-old versatile defender barely played for the Swans last term but will be hoping for more minutes next term – wherever that may be.

Another Championship loan is the most likely outcome for Samuels-Smith, who is understood to have several second-tier clubs keen on presenting their plans to him. The left back had surgery on a quadriceps injury earlier this year and is completing his recovery at the club’s Cobham-based training centre at the time of writing.

Once he is fully fit, Samuels-Smith is set to join Alonso’s group in Surrey to undergo pre-season preparations. It is understood, though, that is likely to be towards the end of the month – by which time, the Chelsea squad could be in Australia for the start of their pre-season tour.

Omari Kellyman

Chelsea are weighing up whether to send Kellyman on loan to an EFL club or elsewhere in Europe – either way, the 20-year-old playmaker is set to spend the upcoming season away from Stamford Bridge. Sources close to Kellyman say the midfielder, who shone on loan for Cardiff City last season, would favour a move abroad this time around.

However, clubs are still yet to present their plan to Kellyman, whose future has not been decided at the time of writing. Since joining Chelsea from Aston Villa just over two years ago, the former England Under-19 international has not made a senior appearance for the Blues.

Kellyman is contracted at Stamford Bridge until 2030 with the option of a further 12 months. Another loan move is on the cards for the youngster, who has been training away from the first team in recent weeks at Cobham.