The player underwent a year-long trial with Chelsea simply by consistently showing up, and surprisingly, the club never objected.

A former Premier League striker, Leroy Lita, claims to have secured a deal with Chelsea after spending a year on trial at the club. Before making his professional debut for Bristol City in the 2002/03 season, Lita, who started his career at Bristol City and Reading before moving to Middlesbrough, Swansea, Barnsley, and Brighton & Hove Albion, spent time in the Chelsea youth system. Initially scouted while playing for Margate, the Congo-born striker progressed through the ranks at Chelsea.

Speaking on the Under the Cosh podcast, Lita shared insights into his journey, stating, “I was playing for Margate against Tonbridge Angels. They were under 14s, but I was playing in the under 13 category. I managed to score three goals and provide three assists in that match. Both a Chelsea scout and a Charlton scout were present at the game. After the match, they approached me and expressed their interest in having a closer look. Being a Chelsea fan, I decided to join Chelsea and spent a year there as a trialist.”

“I just kept showing up, session after session. They never told me not to come, so I kept going. Every training session, I was there. Eventually, they offered me a contract. I started with schoolboy forms and progressed through the ranks, reaching the under 15s and under 16s teams while still in year 10 and year 11 at school.”

Lita further explained, “I was granted two days off school each week to train with both the first team and reserves. It was an incredible experience. They would pick me up after school and provide accommodation. Training sessions involved interacting with first-team stars, which was surreal. On one of the days, I trained with the entire squad, while on the others, I trained with the youth team.

“I thought I had a real chance, but when I turned 16, one Thursday after training, Ted Dale, the academy manager at the time, called me into his office at the training ground and informed me that they wouldn’t be offering me a contract. He cited my size as the reason, among other things.”

“Now looking back, Leon Knight and Carlton Cole were ahead of me. I was thinking, I’m too short? But one of my best attributes is in the air. And f***ing Leon Knight? He’s smaller than me!”