HE was once just another face in the crowd at Cobham.
Now, Tyrique George is lighting up the Premier League.
His story is the kind of tale that reminds us what dreams are really made of.
The 19-year-old winger has gone from academy promise to first-team Premier League baller, and it’s not just talent that got him there, it’s been years of grit, grind, and an unshakable family bond.
At a time when Chelsea have spent more than £1billion on signing some of the best talents from around the world, it's stories like Tyrique's that give hope to Cobham and reassure young players that you can still rise through the ranks and make it.
Born to a Ghanaian mother and Nigerian father, Tyrique’s roots run deep, and so does his support system.
They’ve poured their lives into him. Ordinary , extraordinary sacrifices.
His dad hasn’t missed a single one of his first-team home games, and his mum turned down shifts just to get him across town for training.
From North to South, she ferried him to the training ground in Cobham, Surrey, like clockwork. And now, the boy she believed in is living the dream.
George was 11 years old when he was photographed with Jadon Sancho, then 17, in the car park of a goals centre in south London.
Now they are playing together in Chelsea's youthful team under coach Enzo Maresca.
Bismark Odoi, father of ex-Chelsea star , remembers how George stood out from the pack at an early age.
Bismark said: “He is a few years younger than my son but he was very noticeable from his early years.
“We all used to take them, but I’m happy that he’s making his parents proud because I tell you it’s a lot of hard work, people only see the results, but the work is massive.
“Tyrique was very close to another guy who was similar in stature to him, called Apau I think, a very good young player during their under-12 days.
“Not everyone makes it, but yeah, he was there. I think he was one of the youngsters who played very well knowing their parents were watching too.”;
At youth level, George wasn’t just good. He was special.
In 2023, he scored a 35-yard strike against that would be nominated for the club’s Goal of the Season, announcing him to the top first-team players who might not have heard his name before.
Sources at the club’s training base in Cobham, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their relationship, say his ball-striking ability is one of the best they’ve ever seen come through.
A source said: “His ball-striking is off the charts. People don’t expect it from him, but he’s got dynamite in that foot.
“When we needed a goal at academy level, we gave it to him, and he’d just let it fly.”;
Regular journalists this season say George has that confidence, not arrogance, but a self-assurance that whispers, “I’ve got it”;when he speak to reporters.
Across the U18s and U21s, George racked up a combined 33 goals and assists last season.
But it wasn’t until his bullet finish against that the world truly took notice.
To be fair, he’s benefited hugely from the suspension of Ukrainian winger , who has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance while on international duty last year.
But that’s the story of life… you need to be ready when your chance comes. And George, he’s been ready for a while.
Saul Isaksson-Hurst, his former coach at , tells SunSport how it was easy to see from a young age that he was special.
He said: “I remember one tournament in Portugal where we took them, if I remember correctly, it was an under-9 tournament, and for a kid of that age to have the authority he had and the leadership skill he showed was a sign that he could make it.
“Chelsea academy has the most rigorous recruitment process and an even tougher process to continue to get a contract.
“So for him to keep his head down and do the work is a show of the ingredients that have made him.
“He understands the opportunity that has been given to him, and he is determined to make good use of it.
“And as coaches, that’s all we want to see after we take these kids from an early age and try to give them a good chance at life.”;
The feeling among everyone close to Tyrique is that he is just getting started.
But his journey highlights the importance of self-belief, as well as the commitment- and often unspoken roles of parents to guide and guard, especially in today’s world.
The early starts and late finishes have given him the chance, and now the world is his oyster.
