Tyrique George was 11 years old and in Chelsea’s academy system when he spied Jadon Sancho, then 17, in the car park of a goals centre in south London. Sancho was leaving Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund and George’s dad suggested he ask for a picture.
They posed together, neither realising how closely their careers would be intertwined in the future.
George signed a new and improved contract with Chelsea last summer after graduating from their academy. The agent who arranged that bump – Emeka Obasi – was the same who brought in Sancho on a season-long loan from Manchester United.
Now, they are team-mates, equals, each brought on as game-changing substitutes in the second half of Sunday’s 2-1 comeback at Fulham which kept Chelsea in the Champions League chase.
Manager Enzo Maresca had a choice to make before that trip, whether to include George or Christopher Nkunku in his travelling squad. Nkunku is a 27-year-old France international, a £52million asset, someone they could do with placing in the shop window ahead of the summer and fully fit, but Maresca chose George as his deputy to Nicolas Jackson.
Damningly for Nkunku, George is not even a dedicated striker. He is predominantly a right-footed left-sided winger. That was what made him so scorching on the academy scene, having joined Chelsea as an Under 8 via their development centre programme.
Tyrique George endeared himself to the Chelsea supporters with a goal in the 2-1 win at Fulham
George levelled for the Blues with this strike in a come-from-behind victory at Craven Cottage
Aged 11 he asked Jadon Sancho, then 17, for a photograph – now they are Chelsea team-mates
The duo celebrate after George scores in the Conference League quarter-final at Legia Warsaw
As one agent of a few young Chelsea stars texted Mail Sport on Easter Monday: ‘I’ve seen him stick a fair few in the top corner at Cobham.’
Indeed, those who have followed George’s progress were not surprised by the precision of his finish at Fulham. You can find compilations of similar strikes in games for Chelsea’s various age groups, and this one, scored within five minutes of him replacing Jackson, marked his first Premier League goal.
The England youth international also had the presence of mind to forgo celebrating as he raced back to his own half for a fast restart. No time to waste, after all. The winner awaited.
A little versatility never did any harm, especially when Maresca is George’s manager. He loves his ‘Swiss Army knives’ – players who can play in multiple positions – and he can use this teenager on either wing, at No 10 or, as we’ve seen in substitute appearances, as a striker.
In January, Chelsea considered whether they needed to bring in cover for the suspended Mykhailo Mudryk. They decided against it, with insiders saying George’s progress played a part in their deliberations.
Back to that picture, it felt like a full circle moment at Craven Cottage when Sancho was shoving George in front of the away fans to receive the adulation he deserved.
The supporters sang their new favourite chant back at him, repeating: ‘Tyrique George, aha. Running down the wing, aha. Hear the Chelsea sing, aha. We’re all going to Wroclaw.’ We’ll ignore the fact Wroclaw is actually pronounced ‘Vrots-waff’, rather than ‘Rock-claw’, mind.
Those who know George say sheepishness is typical because he is a mild-mannered boy, not egotistical in any way. Saul Isaksson-Hurst says as such. He worked with George from the ages of seven to nine, and used to visit his primary school to deliver extra sessions. He has also worked with him recently as an individual skills coach, Noni Madueke another of his current clients.
Such is his development, £52m signing Christopher Nkunku didn’t make the squad at Fulham
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca loves the versatility George can provide him in attacking areas
The 19-year-old is now part of the first-team squad as his rise in the Chelsea ranks continue
An England youth international, George can play on either wing, at No 10 or as a striker
George’s style of play has earned him comparisons with Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka
George debuted for Chelsea’s Under 18s at the start of the 2021-22 campaign while still a schoolboy. He became a regular for the side in 2022-23. Last season, he represented the Under 18s and Under 21s.
Those around the academy thought he had the potential to succeed with the seniors, though there were fears he might struggle because it was not certain which position he would play. They are glad to see him doing himself proud in whatever role he is asked to perform.
When Maresca was appointed, he arrived with Roberto Vitiello, a development coach whose responsibilities include providing a pathway to the first team. George and his close friend, Josh Acheampong, have now been permanently promoted from the academy.
It helps having supportive seniors. You only needed to scan the replies to George’s Instagram post on Sunday night to gauge his popularity among those players, with Tosin Adarabioyo, the elder statesman within Chelsea’s squad despite only being 27, seen as his ‘big brother’.
There have been comparisons to Bukayo Saka – another client of Obasi’s – but George is treading his own path. It has led him towards Chelsea’s first team and the more he performs, the sooner that first start in the Premier League will arrive for this academy graduate.