Rayan Cherki ‘Rejected Chelsea Move at 12’, Says Former Academy Teammate

Rayan Cherki reportedly turned down a move to Chelsea as a youngster, according to former academy player Miles Leaburn.

Leaburn, now with Charlton Athletic, revealed that Cherki trained briefly with Chelsea’s youth setup at Cobham around 2015 but chose not to continue with the club. He claimed the French playmaker stood out immediately, describing him as “far superior” to others in training.

“He came over from France and was rainbow-flicking guys in training… absolute quality,” Leaburn told The Sun, suggesting that Cherki may have felt the level was not challenging enough at the time.

Cherki, now 22, has since built a strong reputation in European football after rising through the ranks at Olympique Lyonnais, where he made his senior debut at just 16. His performances—11 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances last season—helped boost his profile ahead of a reported £34 million move to Manchester City this summer.

The playmaker was also previously linked with Manchester United, but reportedly rejected their approach in 2019 to focus on breaking into Lyon’s first team.

Cherki is now expected to be part of Manchester City’s squad for their upcoming FA Cup semi-final clash against Southampton.

Opinion: Talent Knows Its Path Early

Stories like Cherki’s highlight a fascinating reality in football—some players recognize their path very early and are willing to make bold decisions to protect it.

Rejecting a club like Chelsea at 12 might sound unbelievable, but in hindsight, it aligns with Cherki’s career trajectory. Staying at Lyon gave him a clearer route to first-team football, something many young talents struggle to find after joining big academies abroad.

It also raises an important point about development: bigger isn’t always better. For young players, the right environment often matters more than the biggest name.

Now at Manchester City, Cherki faces a different challenge—translating potential into consistency at the highest level. His journey shows confidence and clarity, but the real test is just beginning.

If he succeeds, that early decision to say “no” to Chelsea might be remembered not as surprising—but as smart.