Chelsea Champions League hero's son signs for Arsenal and gets first-team number
Arsenal have signed Marcell Washington, the son of former Chelsea and Southampton star Ryan Bertrand, from the Blues as he pens his first professional deal having come through the ranks in west London.
The 17-year-old left-back joined Arsenal from their London rivals as a trialist last season and has impressed enough to earn a deal with the Gunners. It also means he's the latest young talent to leave the Chelsea set-up, many of whom have gone on to excel elsewhere.
The pedigree in Washington's family will mean there are high hopes for him. His father too came through the ranks at Chelsea and made huge headlines when he was included to play in the Champions League final win in 2012 as a youngster.
He eventually left Stamford Bridge and enjoyed his best days whilst at Southampton, where he was hugely influential. His exploits also earned him England recognition and Washington, who will wear No 55 at Arsenal next term, admits its been incredible to have him advise on his development.
Washington said: "I think it's been such an honour to have him take me through clips and walk me through games that I've played. He's really passionate about making me a better player and probably a better version of him. We might have a bit of an argument about it but you get it out of him."
Washington underlined his ambitions with Arsenal as he added: "I think it's a really big club, obviously. The club are always striving to win trophies. I'm just looking to be an addition to that and see what I can offer the club.'
If the teenager wants to be contributing on the pitch he'll need to compete with the likes of Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly for a place in the first-team, but is glad he'll have such quality around him, adamant they can help improve him during the infant years of his professional career.
He added: "They're all great players that play in and around my position, which I think is a really good thing and training with them and getting the opportunities is really good as well. Because you obviously want to learn from players with such experience and such high skill with all of the games.'
Mikel Arteta has continued to give youth a chance with Lewis-Skelly enjoying a breakout season. Ethan Nwaneri has also become a mainstay with the first-team, all of which will give Washington hope he can get an opportunity.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Celtic star reveals how he was once threatened by a MURDERER during chilling encounter
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOOTBALL star Tony Watt has revealed he was once threatened by a convicted murderer for telling the man to get out of a team photo. The former Celtic striker told how he was left terrified by the encounter with the killer while playing for St Johnstone. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 2 Tony Watt scored a famous goal for Celtic against Barcelona Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow 2 The scary encounter happened during his time at St Johnstone Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Inmates were visiting the Perth club's McDiarmid Park ground as part of a rehabilitation project while Watt and his team-mates were posing for photographs on the pitch. Watt, 31, told how he jokingly told the man to get out of the way only for him to react furiously and confront the petrified player in the changing room. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme, he said: "When I was at St Johnstone they used to do a thing with the community where they would let ex-prisoners in. "We were doing a team photo and there was somebody in a hi-viz vest in the background. "I didn't know about the community thing at the time so as footballers do for banter I was shouting 'Get out of this photo you' and there were a loud couple of laughs. "I went into the changing room and the door opens and he goes 'Tony Watt I don't want to be in your f**king photo, you can f**k off'. "He walked out and the boys were like 'He was in jail for murder'. "I don't think I spoke for the rest of the day. I was trying to be a smart Alec and I nearly got battered off a murderer. "It's a good thing the club do to integrate them back in but not when you have got loudmouths like myself shouting stuff at them." The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up Watt, who played for St Johnstone during the 2018/19 season, signed for Partick Thistle earlier this month after recent spells with Dundee United and Motherwell. He shot to fame as an 18-year-old after scoring the winning goal for Celtic against Barcelona in a Champions League tie. Watt from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, made himself an instant cult figure among the Parkhead faithful with his strike and reduced celebrity fan Rod Stewart to tears. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Inside Chelsea's Club World Cup celebrations: Moises Caicedo is back leading the karaoke, stars party with Tom Brady and Cole Palmer's passionate greeting to fans
Moises Caicedo was at the heart of Chelsea 's celebrations once again as the Blues toasted their FIFA Club World Cup success at a party in New York. Enzo Marseca's side earned a surprise 3-0 victory over reigning champions PSG on Sunday night to win the first edition of the expanded 32-team tournament. Cole Palmer scored twice in the first half before providing the assist for Joao Pedro to net the third in the final. After Chelsea were awarded the trophy by US President Donald Trump, who bizarrely remained at the heart of the presentation, Blues stars celebrated on the pitch with members of their family. Enzo Marseca's jubilant squad then returned to their team hotel, where hundreds of fans had gathered to toast the newly crowned world champions. Palmer was among the first players off the bus, with the player of the tournament giving an uncharacteristically emotional reaction. The 23-year-old, still wearing his match shirt and medal was seen clutching his Golden Ball award as he walked towards fans. Palmer roared in their direction and gestured for them to continue to make noise as his team-mates continued to disembark. Chelsea players and staff were then treated to a private event to toast their success and celebrate a successful end to a gruelling 11-month season. The season had seen Maresca lead Chelsea to Champions League qualification and Conference League success, before triumphing at the Club World Cup. As he had done in Poland after the Conference League, footage from the celebrations showed Caicedo leading the squad with kareoke. The Blues star was seen holding a microphone and singing, with the midfielder sporting sunglasses and a t-shirt emblazoned with the words 'world champions' and the number 25. Chelsea stars were joined at the event by NFL legend Tom Brady, the seven-time SuperBowl winner. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall asked 'What are we?' before adding emojis of the world and a trophy. Brady, who is now a minority owner of Birmingham City, had watched the final from the stands at the MetLife Stadium and had been seen in Trump's box. Enzo Fernandez and new Chelsea signing Dario Essugo were among those pictured with Brady during their afterparty. Reflecting on being part of the success so earlier in his Chelsea career, Essugo wrote on social media 'Not even in my dreams, thanks GOD for so many blessings'. Fernandez had shared an Instagram post with Brady and labelled him as the 'GOAT', while a separate post wrote 'CHELSEA !!! CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD'. Chelsea stars showed off their winners medals in numerous photos, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall asking 'What are we?' before adding emojis of the world and a trophy. Levi Colwill wrote 'Winners win' in his social media post, with the defender also seen biting his medal. The 22-year-old had been bullish about Chelsea's chances of downing PSG on the eve of the final and had been proved right as the Blues dismantled the European champions. Head coach Enzo Maresca, the mastermind of Chelsea's success, was also pictured with members of staff at the New York party. Footage shared by Chelsea from their dressing room also contained a short interview with recent signing Joao Pedro. The recent £60m signing from Brighton has made a stunning start to his Chelsea career, having scored twice in the semi-finals before netting their third in the final. 'Joao, you were on holiday and now you are a world champion,' he was told in the clip. Pedro responded 'What can I say, this is Chelsea.
Metro
31 minutes ago
- Metro
Liverpool open talks to sign Premier League star as Darwin Nunez replacement
Liverpool have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta as they seek to boost their attacking options, according to reports in France. Arne Slot's side have already launched an impressive summer recruitment drive, with Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz all arriving before pre-season. But the Reds are keen to build further on the side that coasted to the Premier League title last season, and have earmarked a striker as a position to strengthen. Darwin Nunez joined Liverpool for an initial £64m fee from Benfica three years ago, but looks set to leave Anfield this summer after failing to secure a regular role under Slot. Nunez made 47 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring seven goals, but started just eight league games and has been linked with a move to Napoli. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Diogo Jota's tragic passing may also have altered Liverpool transfer plans, given the Portugal international was a versatile option across the front line. Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak have both been linked with moves to Anfield this summer, but, according to Foot Mercato, Liverpool have also turned their attention to Mateta, who scored 14 league goals last season for Palace. The report adds that the representatives from the club have already met with Mateta and his agent in Paris to discuss a potential move. The Frenchman, who is under contract until 2027 at Selhurst Park, was in talks with Palace over a new contract at the start of the summer. Mateta has previously attracted interest from Manchester United, with a fee of around £40-50m believed to be enough to tempt Palace to part ways with their star striker. More Trending Liverpool, meanwhile, have also been credited with interest in Mateta's teammate, Marc Guehi, as they seek to add defensive cover following the departure of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. Reports suggest that the Reds will table a 'take-it-or-leave-it' offer of £40m for the centre-back who has entered the last 12 months of his Palace contract. Guehi is said to not be pushing for a move this summer, but also has no intentions of signing a new deal to extend his stay at Selhurst Park. Arsenal and Chelsea have also been linked with a move for the England international. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 'I may get attacked for this' – Viktor Gyokeres sent warning ahead of Arsenal transfer MORE: Troy Deeney rates Chelsea's Premier League title chances after Club World Cup triumph MORE: Enzo Maresca told to replace Chelsea star after Club World Cup final
