Chelsea news: Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli praised by Xabi Alonso ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers friendly

Xabi Alonso has claimed that Chelsea starlet Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli has "special qualities".

The 16-year-old has been selected successful a 27-player squad for the pre-season circuit of Australia and Asia.

Chelsea get that docket underway with a affable against Western Sydney Wanderers connected Tuesday.

Despite his young age, Nicoll-Jazuli - who was calved successful Australia - has been included successful the group, the teen having the accidental to marque an content connected his caller manager.

Speaking astatine a property league connected Monday, Alonso revealed that helium is seeing things successful the imaginable that "you don't spot that often".

Alonso heaps praises connected Nicoll-Jazuli

Alonso besides stressed the request to "help" the cardinal midfielder during the adjacent signifier of his development.

The Spaniard said: "I was informed yesterday that helium was calved successful Sydney, truthful it was a surprise. But he’s 1 of those talented players that travel from the academy.

"Really impressed with him, with different ones but Mahdi is simply a endowment that we request to help, we request to make due to the fact that helium has peculiar qualities that you don’t spot that often with from a 16-year-old guy.

"I don’t cognize if helium has an Australian passport but it volition beryllium pugnacious for him to take successful the future."

He added: "He has large dynamism, helium has quality, precise implicit player. He tin walk short, helium tin dribble successful the middle. He has made a bully content truthful far."

What are the chances of Nicoll-Jazuli being fast-tracked by Chelsea?

Nicoll-Jazuli does not crook 17 years of property until January, emphasising however acold determination is to spell with his development.

Two goals and 5 assists person travel from 27 appearances for Chelsea Under-18s, but possibly the astir telling statistic is however galore outings helium has made for the Under-21s.

As galore arsenic 294 minutes person been racked up implicit 7 games, Nicoll-Jazuli besides playing 62 minutes of an EFL Trophy necktie astatine Northampton erstwhile helium was 15 years old.

Right now, Nicoll-Jazuli volition person to bide his clip with regards to competitory elder minutes successful 2026-27, but Alonso volition permission the doorway unfastened for a first-team debut if helium tin marque a affirmative interaction for the Under-21s.