CHELSEA academy starlet Ato Ampah has penned an emotional goodbye to the club on social media after nine years at Cobham.
The talented winger, who plays primarily on the right-hand side, joined Stoke City on a permanent deal during a busy deadline day at Stamford Bridge.
The move for the 19-year-old holds a value of up to £3million.
He joins Stoke as they push for promotion back to the Premier League this season, with the club also bringing in former Cobham boy Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as further wing reinforcement on loan.
Ex-Chelsea wonderkid Lewis Baker is also at Stoke.
Ampah has been a key member of Chelsea‘s youth team that has been firing on all cylinders this season.
HELL YAH
‘Thankful for the journey’ – Chelsea star says goodbye to fans after seven years
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He’s racked up four goals and six assists in 13 appearances in all competitions, and looked a really promising player in the Uefa Youth League against Barcelona, with SunSport keeping a close eye on the young talent.
He’s strong on the ball physically, despite not being the tallest, and has seriously impressive dribbling technique with a powerful strike to boot.
If he can develop his end product and finishing, he will be a real threat for Stoke.
The youngster, alongside two pictures of himself – one signing for the Blues aged 10, and one from his professional debut – bid an emotional goodbye to his boyhood club on Instagram.
He said: “From the age of 10 to making my professional debut, Chelsea has been my home.
“Thank you to every coach, staff member, and teammate who played a part in my journey and growth, on and off the pitch.”
Alongside a blue heart emoji, he added: “Forever grateful.”
Ampah was given his professional debut in the Conference League by Enzo Maresca last season.
Wearing the number 55, he was a second-half substitute in the 3-1 victory over Astana in Kazakhstan, replacing Pedro Neto on the right-hand side for the Blues.
Saying goodbye to an academy starlet, Chelsea released a statement on his departure.
It read: “Ato Ampah has completed a permanent transfer to Championship club Stoke City.
“Joining the Blues aged 10, Ampah developed through our Academy at Cobham and made his Under-18s debut during the 2021/22 campaign.
“The winger continued to feature for our youth team over the following two seasons, helping the Blues win the Under-18 Premier League southern section at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
“Ampah stepped up to the Under-21s during the 2024/25 season and made his first-team debut when introduced as a substitute in our Conference League victory over Astana in Kazakhstan.
“Having previously featured for England Under-18s, Ampah made the step up and represented England Under-20s at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
“We thank Ato for his efforts throughout his time at Chelsea and wish him well as he begins a new chapter in his career.”
Plenty of Ampah’s team-mates throughout the Cobham pathway wished him well with Under-21s captain and fellow wonderkid Shim Mheuka saying: “Smash it bro”.
Reggie Walsh, Kiano Dyer, and first-teamer Josh Acheampong all commented with hearts, as did Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, new Ipswich loanee Frankie Runham, Genesis Antwi, and Milan deadline day signing Yahya Idrissi.
Ollie Harrison said: “All the best”.
Chelsea fans also wished Ampah on his way.
One wrote on X: “Good luck Ato”.
Another said simply: “show dem”.
Someone else replied: “All the best on your next journey young man!”
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