Who is Jake Clarke-Salter? A guide to the youngster training with Chelsea’s first team
Jake Clarke-Salter has been training with the Chelsea first team this week and is in contention for a place in the squad to face Newcastle on Saturday. Here’s the lowdown on the England Under-19 international.
In the beginning
Clarke-Salter was born in Carshalton, Surrey, in September 1997 – the day after Ruud Gullit’s Chelsea were beaten 3-2 at home by Arsenal courtesy of a late Nigel Winterburn winner.
The talented youngster soon caught the eye of the Blues, as he joined at the age of eight. He continued to train and play for the academy’s teams but suffered a serious knee injury in his early teens, which saw him miss most of his Under-15 season.
First taste of success
After recovering from that setback, Clarke-Salter made 14 appearances for the youth team while still a schoolboy in 2013-14, scoring twice.
He also played in the semi-final and final of the FA Youth Cup that season, as a side also containing the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Dominic Solanke, Andreas Christensen and Charly Musonda beat Fulham 7-6 on aggregate.
• Born: 22 September 1997 (age 18), in Carshalton, Surrey
• Position: Centre-back
• Playing honours: FA Youth Cup (2013-14, 2014-15), UEFA Youth League 2014-15.
• International caps: 5, England Under-19s.
Last season
Such was his impact, Clarke-Salter became captain of the Under-18s and signed his first professional contract in December 2014, as he also went on to make his Under-19 and Under-21 debuts. In total, he made 44 appearances across the three youth teams.
He played in every Uefa Youth League game and all but one FA Youth Cup tie, as Chelsea lifted both trophies, and he was rewarded with a call-up to the first-team squad for a post-season tour in May.
This season
Clarke-Salter also travelled to the United States with the first team in pre-season, and was an unused substitute against the likes of Barcelona, Paris St-Germain and New York Red Bulls.
He has, however, been a regular in Adi Viveash’s Under-21 side and in November signed a new four-year deal.
And just last month he netted an injury-time winner against Tottenham to further enhance his reputation as one of the club’s brightest stars.
International recognition
Clarke-Salter is also making a name for himself with England. After playing for the Under-18s, he has also won five caps for Aidy Boothroyd’s Under-19 team, and was last called up in November.
