Who is Samuel Iling-Junior? The ex-Chelsea wonderkid starring at Juventus

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 7 May 2023 16:17 BST
• 4 min read

Samuel Iling-Junior scored on his first start for Juventus and already boasts Serie A and Champions League assists at the tender age of 19, but what else is there to know about the England under-20 winger, once of Chelsea?

Iling-Junior spent nine years in the Chelsea youth academy between 2011 and 2020, where he was in the same age group and teammate of Armando Broja, but unlike the Albanian striker he decided to try his luck elsewhere in pursuit of senior first-team football.

He signed on a free transfer with Juventus Next Gen - Juve's reserve team - in September 2020, and after lighting up the Campionato Primavera 1 last season with 10 goals and seven assists from 26 games, graduated to the first-team squad this season.

READ: Juventus wages: How much does each player earn?

The decision to swap Chelsea for Juventus already looks to be paying off. He made his Serie A debut against Empoli in October 2022, and four days later made his Champions League bow for the club, assisting Arkadiusz Milik in a 4-2 win for the Old Lady over Benfica.

Iling-Junior has featured now and then off the bench since then and really hit the headlines in the closing weeks of the 2022-23 season.

He got an assist in the 1-1 draw at Bologna, before then scoring in his first start for the club in the crucial 2-0 victory over Atalanta on May 7. In the process he became the first Englishman to start and score for Juventus in 30 years, since David Platt in 1993.

Juve may have struggled under Max Allegri this season, but Iling-Junior's future looks to be very bright indeed.

What position does Iling-Junior play in?

Perhaps unusually in the modern game, Iling-Junior is a left-footed winger who prefers lining up on the left-hand side. He is capable of cutting inside from the opposite flank, but his pace is such that he can go past his marker on the outside and still have time and space to either cross or shoot.

He has also played as a left wing-back for Juventus in Allegri's 3-5-2 formation, scoring from there in the win over Atalanta.

How good is Iling-Junior?

Slender but powerful, with sharp control and a good shot, Iling-Junior is a handful for opposition defenders. His three seasons at youth level for Juve brought 19 goals and 20 assists, and he has become increasingly prolific with age.

But Iling-Junior has also shown good tactical versatility and defensive coverage as a left wing-back. He is unpredictable in attack but also reliable in working and defending for the team.

Filip Kostic, Juventus' incumbent left wing back, will be looking nervously over his shoulder at Iling-Junior's progression.

What clubs are interested in Iling-Junior?

PSG, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were all interested in Iling-Junior before he swapped Chelsea for Juventus, and that is unlikely to have died down with the player still only 19.

Aston Villa have been linked with making a move for him in the summer of 2023.

Chelsea have seen more than just Iling-Junior leave their academy and impress abroad, with Bayern's Jamal Musiala another example. The Blues might be ready to eat humble pie and bring him back with owner Todd Boehly keen to implement his "Vision 2030" at the club.

When does Iling-Junior's contract expire?

Iling-Junior's contract at Juventus Stadium runs until 30 June 2025.

How old is Iling-Junior?

Born on 4 October 2003, Iling-Junior is 19.

He shares a birthdate with former Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi.

What is Iling-Junior's Instagram?

Samuel Iling-Junior's Instagram has 400K followers as of May 2023.