Chelsea Football Club has confirmed that four homegrown players will leave Stamford Bridge when their contracts expire on June 30, 2026.
The club made the announcement via its official X account on Wednesday, as part of the retained and released list marking the close of the 2025/26 season.
Defender Brodi Hughes brings to an end the longest association of the four, a 13-year journey that began when he joined Chelsea’s academy as an Under-8. Despite rising steadily through the ranks at Cobham, his most recent action came during a loan stint at League One side AFC Wimbledon, and the senior breakthrough at Stamford Bridge never arrived.
Richard Olise, brother of Bayern Munich and France star Michael, also departs after a decade with the club, having signed as an Under-9 and accumulated appearances across three youth age groups.
His closest brush with the first team came when he was named among the squad for the UEFA Conference League trip to Astana in 2024/25, but a senior debut remained beyond his reach.
Midfielder Sam Rak-Sakyi exits with arguably the most notable record of the quartet. He made his senior debut in Chelsea’s 8-0 Conference League rout of FC Noah and added three further substitute appearances in the competition during the 2024/25 campaign, earning himself a winners’ medal in the process. His brother Jesurun is currently with Crystal Palace.
Jimi Tauriainen, the Finnish youth international, rounds out the departures. Named on the bench for the 2024 Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, he went on to make his first-team debut against Leeds United in the FA Cup and also featured in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur, fleeting but memorable moments in a Chelsea shirt.
Striker Ronnie Stutter is the one bright spot in the announcement, with the 21-year-old moving onto a month-to-month contract, keeping his options alive at the club for the time being.
Chelsea thanked all departing players for their service and wished them well in the next chapter of their careers.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Chelsea have released four long-serving academy players, Brodi Hughes, Richard Olise, Sam Rak-Sakyi, and Jimi Tauriainen at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Each player spent the better part of their formative years at Cobham, with some earning brief first-team opportunities, yet none managed to secure a permanent place in the senior squad.
Their departures underline a harsh but familiar reality in elite football: years of loyalty and dedication through the academy system are no guarantee of a first-team future.
Striker Ronnie Stutter is the only player from the group to retain ties with the club, moving onto a month-to-month deal.
