Reggie Walsh set for Chelsea exit as Wigan close in

Full name: Chelsea Football Club Nickname: The Blues Founded: 10 March 1905 Ground: Stamford Bridge Owner: BlueCo Chairman: Todd Boehly Manager: Xabi Alonso League: Premier League Season 2025-26: 10th position Website: chelseafc.com Chelsea Football Club is one of the most…
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Wigan Athletic are closing in on a season-long loan deal for Chelsea midfielder Reggie Walsh, with news of a transfer edging closer. The 17-year-old will sign a better contract before his first loan move. A final deal is expected once Walsh passes his medical.

As reported by BBC, Walsh only recently landed back in England after joining Chelsea’s pre-season trip across Australia and Asia under Xabi Alonso. He is now set to head to the North West to finish his move to League One. The teenager already made history at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s youngest ever player in the Champions League, coming off the bench against Ajax last October. He has also made three more first-team appearances since, all under old boss Enzo Maresca. Wigan are currently ahead of several Championship clubs also chasing him.

Despite his Champions League breakthrough, first-team minutes at the Blues are hard to find for a young midfielder up against senior stars for a place. A loan to a tough League One club gives him a real test each week. Playing against grown men should sharpen his choices on the ball. It should also speed up his read of the game. League One football tends to be direct and physical. That style should suit a player hoping to toughen up before he pushes for a Premier League squad spot. Mistakes carry real weight once games start to count in a first-team dressing room.

Reggie Walsh’s stats in the 2025-26 season at Chelsea, as per FOTMOB:

Chelsea’s wider academy plan

Academy players are being sent out on loan this summer while new young talent joins the club. Chelsea recently signed Harrison Bettoni from Wigan. He plays a role much like Reggie Walsh and joined mainly to bulk up the academy squad. At the same time, winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is closing in on his own loan move to Championship side Portsmouth, after also touring with the first team this summer.

Kavuma-McQueen scored 13 goals in 26 games for Chelsea’s youth teams last season. That record means Portsmouth are getting a proven scorer, not just a raw kid. Walsh, Mheuka, and Kavuma-McQueen are all moving toward loans in the same window.

Mheuka’s new deal and what comes next

As reported by Football.london, striker Shim Mheuka is also set to sign a new deal this week. Mheuka was named Premier League 2 Player of the Season last term. He scored 18 goals in just 19 games for the Under-21 side. That strike rate puts him ahead of most forwards his age in the academy system. It explains why Chelsea want to tie him down before he heads out on loan himself. The club would rather secure his signature now than risk losing him on a free elsewhere.

Like Walsh, Mheuka is set to leave for regular first-team football once his new deal is signed. He is likely to join a Championship or League One side, where he will face senior defenders every week. Chelsea’s approach with both players shows a club willing to test its sharpest young talent away from Cobham before deciding who fits Xabi Alonso’s senior plans. Should Mheuka carry his Under-21 form into a men’s league this season, he could return next summer as a genuine option for the first team, rather than just a name on the fringes.

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Deepanjali Bhardwaj

Deepanjali Bhardwaj is the Sports Editor at Six Sports, where she leads editorial coverage across cricket, football, and other major sporting events. She oversees newsroom operations, editorial planning, story development, and publishing standards while ensuring every article meets Six Sports’ commitment to accuracy, transparency, and responsible journalism.

She works closely with writers, editors, and contributors to deliver timely news, match reports, analysis, features, and explainers covering domestic and international competitions. Her editorial approach focuses on factual reporting, clear analysis, and reader-first journalism, helping audiences stay informed about the latest developments across the sporting world.

As Sports Editor, Deepanjali plays a key role in maintaining the publication’s editorial quality, consistency, and independence while guiding coverage of major leagues, tournaments, teams, and athletes.