Two ex-Chelsea youngsters find a home at Brighton & Hove Albion

Contrary to popular, tabloidian belief, even if a young player does not quite make it at Chelsea, his career isn't over and he isn't consigned to a life of squalor, depression, and "would you like fries with that?"  Case in point, Daniel Pappoe and George Cole.

Both youngsters were released this summer after almost a decade in the Chelsea youth system, and now, both have caught on with Championship outfit Brighton & Hove Albion.  Pappoe, 20, and G.Cole, 19, join the Brighton U21 team for now but considering their qualifications, it wouldn't be surprising to see them get a bit of playing time in the first-team sooner rather than later just like Rohan Ince did last year.  (Provided of course, especially in Pappoe's case, that they stay healthy.)

"Both have good experience having played at a club of Chelsea's stature and we feel they will help us be competitive and provide some stability during our first season as a category one side."

"With so many players taking the step up to the first team recently there has been a void in our under-21s that our under-18s have been filling, but we needed to bring in more faces at under-21 level so that we don't over exert our youngsters too early."

-Simon Ireland; source: BHAFC

Brighton & Hove Albion U21 will play in Division 2 of the brand new U21 Premier League structure, alongside the likes or Arsenal U21, Aston Villa U21, and nine others.  (Chelsea are in Division 1.)  Both Pappoe and Cole signed just one-year deals; but congratulations and good luck to them!