4: Charlie Wakefield on Life in the Chelsea Bubble, Money, Injuries and Mental Health

This week on More Than a Name, we sit down with former Chelsea academy star Charlie Wakefield for an honest and revealing conversation about the realities of chasing a career in elite football.
Charlie opens up about how he signed for Chelsea at 12 (2:28), growing up inside the academy “bubble" (4:50), and the pressure of being labelled a top prospect (6:30). He explains how 10 hamstring injuries, stem cell treatment and constant setbacks reshaped his identity, his confidence, and ultimately his career path (23:12).
We dive into the money, the agents, the expectations, and the misconceptions that follow young players — as well as Chelsea’s strategy of investing heavily in teenage talent and selling for profit (11:50).
Charlie also shares his mission to promote mental health awareness in football (39:10) and his plans for life after the game, including building his own company, One Percent Supplements (47:12).
This is a must-listen for families invested in the game and fans who want to be taken behind the curtain.
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