In a peculiar quirk of fate, the best and certainly most significant transfer window of Chelsea’s recent history turned out to be one they were barred from signing players in.
Indeed, last summer pointed the Stamford Bridge club in a new direction. The transfer embargo meted out by FIFA forced the Blues to think differently and reflect inwards.
They did that by turning to youth. Of course, Chelsea’s youth setup had long been heralded as one of the best in the country.
The club’s youth teams consistently challenge for honours, illustrated by the five successive FA Youth Cups lifted between 2014 and 2018.
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