Chelsea are showing signs that they are finally ready to lean on their successful academy this season after the emergence of the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The homegrown pair took all season but finally convinced Maurizio Sarri that they deserve to start after the last international break in March.
The duo have flown the flag for the academy, while Andreas Christensen and Ethan Ampadu, who have been brought in at 16 years old from other clubs, have also made first team appearances.
However, Sarri hasn't given a debut to any new academy players this season and is the first manager not to do so during the Roman Abramovich era. Chelsea also recorded the highest average age out of the 'big six' clubs in the Premier League.
Still, Chelsea have had some great under-21 performers, with Loftus-Cheek and Christensen too old to make the grade, while Ampadu hasn't featured enough at either senior or youth level to be included in this list.
After much deliberation, Goal has selected Chelsea's top three performers of the 2018-19 season - let us know how you feel about the choices in the comments section below.
3. MARC GUEHI
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This season has been a rare trophy-less one for the academy and it follows a year where the club won an unprecedented quadruple through Jody Morris' Under-18 team.
However, Marc Guehi remains one of the most decorated defenders in his age group across English football. Intelligent, with an excellent passing range and impressive physical qualities mean that there are high hopes for this youngster to make the grade.
A loan move is likely the next step, but Guehi has been at Chelsea since he was eight years old and he was rewarded recently for his hard work by getting a place on Sarri's bench in the 0-0 draw with Leicester City. He didn't come on, but he then went to the U.S. for the post-season friendly match against New England Revolution.
Along with Hudson-Odoi, Guehi was part of the Under-17 World Cup-winning side in India in 2017, and his current deal runs until June 2020.
2. CONOR GALLAGHER
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Like Guehi and Hudson-Odoi, Conor Gallagher is an Under-17 World Cup winner with England and has been recognised for building upon that success by claiming the Chelsea Academy Player of the Year award for 2019.
His performances at youth level were not awarded with a collective trophy, as youth teams in the recent past have managed, but they did earn him a spot on the club's B list for the Europa League.
Gallagher has yet to make his debut for Chelsea, but he has contributed five goals and seven assists from his central midfield position. The 19-year-old has also played with higher age groups than his own in the EFL Trophy against senior lower league sides and in the Under-23s competition dubbed Premier League 2.
Sarri took both Gallagher and Guehi to Boston for the friendly against New England Revolution in the 'Final Whistle on Hate' match. Gallagher got a late cameo with the first team in the Gillette Stadium.
1. CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI
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Just like Hazard in the senior list, Hudson-Odoi is head and shoulders above all competitors for top-spot amongst the youngsters.
The 18-year-old's story began with a great pre-season under Sarri, who had many players out due to their World Cup commitments ahead of the new season.
His performance in pre-season didn't translate to first team appearances, however, even though the local talent had already made senior apps under the previous manager Antonio Conte.
Hudson-Odoi then became Bayern Munich's primary transfer target in the January transfer window, leading to the youngster handing in a transfer request directly to Marina Granovskaia.
Bayern were even prepared to offer Hudson-Odoi the number 10 shirt of a departing Arjen Robben, but Chelsea rejected his request and held onto him.
An England debut came ahead of a first league start, as Gareth Southgate was convinced of Hudson-Odoi's potential through his cup performances at Stamford Bridge.
Sarri trust soon followed and Hudson-Odoi made his first league start, which led to a run of four in a row before the youngster tragically ruptured his Achilles tendon.