Who is Shim Mheuka? Chelsea wonderkid goal machine who can make history after shock squad call-up

Included at the bottom of a confirmed 22-man travelling squad for Chelsea's Conference League group phase match against Panathinaikos was an unfamiliar name to many. After training with the senior squad ahead of the game, Shumaira Mheuka made the journey to Greece.

More commonly known as Shim, Mheuka has been building towards this opportunity quickly. Signed in 2022 from Brighton's academy (where else?), and originating in Birmingham, Mheuka has been a standout in age-group football for a while.

In fact, it was playing against Chelsea's Under-17s in a cup match that really cemented what plenty of avid youth football watchers already knew. The kid is something special.

Mheuka, in this game, was still only 13. He was approaching his 14th birthday but scored twice against Chelsea, who have one of the strongest academy sides in the world.

Earlier this week - October 20 - Mheuka celebrated his own 17th birthday. As is often the case for talented teenagers - Mheuka became a full-time scholar over the summer - he has now signed a first professional contract at the club. Coming the day of Chelsea' trip to Greece, there will be hope that this is the first of many.

he would become the youngest Chelsea player since 1991 to make an appearance. He would be even younger than Ethan Ampadu, Terry Venables, Dominic Solanke, Ray Wilkins, Callum Hudson-Odoi, or Ron Harris. Bobby Tambling - the club's second all-time top scorer - was 17 and four months, Lewis Hall was too.

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Mheuka could become the seventh youngest player in the club's history. It won't be too much of a shock for those who have followed him closely.

Just over two years ago, Mheuka was playing for England's Under-15 side but has already moved through the ranks, representing the Under-16s and Under-17s, skipping the Under-18s, and going straight to the Under-19s during the most recent international break.

This is not a common occurrence. , and have both done it and are considered as two of the best youngsters around.

Mheuka scored in both games for the junior Three Lions against France and the Netherlands. He was also a big part of England's Under-17 European Championship over the summer, bagging a goal in the opener against Spain.

Both Nwaneri and Moore have played for their clubs already this season, leaving Mheuka in good company. It was just last season that he was playing Under-18 football for Chelsea.

After impressing with nine goals and two assists in the Under-18 Premier League - Chelsea won the south competition only to narrowly lose out to Manchester United in the national final - as a 16-year-old who started the season at 15, Mheuka has immediately made the step-up. In total, he managed 12 goals from 20 Under-18 appearances last season.

Earlier in October he scored his first Premier League 2, getting one in a rampant 6-0 win over Fulham. That was of nine appearances so far, six of which he has started.

Under Felipe Coehlo, he is now a regular in the Development Squad. In pre-season he played against senior sides in League One and League Two, holding his own, whilst also getting the chance in the EFL Cup as well. Operating largely as a striker, Mheuka has plenty to offer.

"Shim, we use him as a striker and as a winger," "They [Mheuka and Sam Rak-Sakyi] are good profiles, young ones, and it will be a good experience for them to stay with us."