Six Chelsea youngsters sign first professional contracts; one Chelsea youngster moves to Chesterfield on free transfer

A busy day at Chelsea continues with the annual contract-signing day.  Six Academy 17-year-olds signed their first professional contracts today, including Nathan Baxter, Trevoh Chalobah (who's technically a week shy of 17), Joseph Colley, Cole Dasilva, Harvey St Clair and Malakai Hinckson-Mars.

Chalobah and Colley have committed themselves to the club until the end of the 2018/19 campaign. Baxter, Hinckson-Mars and St Clair have penned two-year deals, while Dasilva signs until the end of 2016/17.

-source: Chelsea FC

Baxter was the first-choice goalkeeper for Chelsea's U18 side, which won the FA Youth Cup last season, playing in every minute of the competition. Nathaniel Chalobah's younger brother Trevoh, a versatile defender, was also a significant contributor in that success, starting every game. They also both picked up UEFA Youth League winners' medals during that time, along with Gambian-Swedish defender Colley.

Younger brother of Jay Dasilva, Cole Dasilva is also a defender and made 24 appearances in our youth teams last season. His contract is just for this year, which is fairly uncommon.  St Clair is a midfielder who scored 8 goals in 23 games at the U18 team; and Hinckson-Mars is a forward who made 7 appearances for Chelsea's U18s, scoring one goal.

The club also announced that 20-year-old forward Reece Mitchell joined League One club Chesterfield in a permanent move, signing a two-year contract with the team. Mitchell spent nine years at the Academy, and moved to the Spireites on a free transfer.  He had battled through and back from injury hell over the last couple years, which included a broken leg, becoming once again an important contributor to the U21 side this season.

Best of luck to the newest Chelsea professionals, as well as to Mitchell on his next foray.