'Chelsea since birth' - is Gallagher exit a 'soulless ploy' or sense?

Conor Gallagher joined Chelsea when he was eight

Conor Gallagher went from being an eight-year-old Chelsea academy signing to wearing the captain's armband.

Yet his 16-year spell at the club he grew up supporting is over following the England midfielder's move to Atletico Madrid for about £33m.

Some Chelsea supporters are upset at the 24-year-old's departure, claiming homegrown Gallagher's exit increases the gulf between the ownership and the fanbase.

Others appear fine with it and believe the money for a player who was out of contract next summer will help balance the books.

While the debate among fans goes on, Gallagher is beginning the next chapter of his career in Spain where he faces a showdown with England team-mate Jude Bellingham on 29 September when Atletico host Real Madrid in La Liga.

He leaves behind a club on its fourth permanent manager since Chelsea's £4.25bn sale to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in May 2022.

Gallagher also leaves behind a club that has finished 12th and sixth the previous two seasons - and which has continued to spend big this summer.

Has his exit put new boss Enzo Maresca and the owners under even more pressure?

"There is only one thing that eases this tension and that is results on the pitch," said Chelsea fan Nat Hayward.

"Lets hope, for their sake, it is a positive start to the season."

BBC Sport's Nizaar Kinsella, said: "It’s safe to say that sections of the fanbase have raised their eyebrows over the treatment and departure of a homegrown midfielder, who clearly loved the club.

"There are a lot of parallels to Mason Mount’s departure to Manchester United last summer - as two popular homegrown stars felt they were pushed out.

"Ultimately, Chelsea don’t believe Gallagher, who has exceptional energy level and fitness, is as good at playing the short passing game that will soon characterise the club.

"But it won’t stop some supporters feeling that all these sales of academy players are a soulless ploy to cover transfer market mistakes and keep them compliant with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules."

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, added: "There was no need to spin it that Conor wasn't wanted because of the new possession style.

"The club have been keen to cash in on him for a season or more, the fans know this so don't insult their intelligence with that line. I would wish Conor the best whether he ended up in a Spanish villa or Aston Villa. He just needs somewhere his talents and fabulous attitude are valued."

Chelsea lose role model

Gallagher grew up local to Chelsea's Cobham training ground and rose through the youth ranks at Stamford Bridge, winning the Under-17 World Cup with England in 2017.

However, it was not until 2022 that he was handed his senior Chelsea debut at the age of 22 by Thomas Tuchel.

By then Gallagher had already had loan spells at Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.

It was while he was at Palace that he made his first senior England appearance in a 10-0 World Cup qualifying win away to San Marino in November 2021 - three years after having minor heart surgery.

Gallagher's breakthrough season at Chelsea in 2022-23 saw him make 35 Premier League appearances. His contribution last season, when he scored five goals in 37 top-flight appearances, was second only to Cole Palmer, who finished the season with 22 Premier League goals.

Gallagher made five appearances for England at Euro 2024

'Gallagher adds dynamism and intensity'

While Chelsea are in the Europa Conference League in 2024-25, Gallagher has joined a team that will compete in the Champions League after finishing fourth in La Liga last season behind champions Real Madrid, Barcelona and Girona.

"Gallagher adds the dynamism, intensity and enough quality to help the team and make an impact," said Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone is rebuilding his squad after allowing former Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata (AC Milan), ex-Manchester United forward Memphis Depay and midfielder Saul (Sevilla, loan) to leave.

"They wanted to bring in young blood," added Balague.

'Fan favourites are being ushered out'

Gallagher joins the likes of Billy Gilmour (Brighton), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nottingham Forest), Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa), Lewis Hall (Newcastle) and Mason Mount (Manchester United) in terms of Cobham-developed players who have departed since the 2022 takeover.

Boss Enzo Maresca has called on the Premier League to change their financial rules so clubs do not feel "compelled" to sell academy players.

When clubs sell academy graduates the entire transfer fee goes down as 'pure profit' in their accounts and can help them navigate the top flight's strict profit and sustainability rules.

Nevin told BBC Sport: "The 'legacy' fans are particularly distraught, but they also understand this is little more than pure economics. He is a home-grown talent, 'straight outta Cobham', as it were and that means he represents pure profit when he is sold on.

‌"The club needs the Gallagher income to boost the coffers having spent more than a billion pounds, only to discover they have the looming Premier League PSR to consider.

"The England star, the club's most committed performer last season, a sometime captain and a true fans favourite is the next one to be nudged out."

"It's not what Conor Gallagher is, it's what he represents," added Hayward.

"In a past era of Chelsea, accepting a £33m offer for him from Atletico Madrid would elicit far less of a reaction than it has now.

"Gallagher is a committed, passionate and solid performer. But he is not remarkable. His homegrown status elevates his standing among supporters beyond where he would rank on ability alone.

"But this is not a Chelsea that boasts a midfield containing a Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, N'Golo Kante or Cesc Fabregas.

"This is a Chelsea that is without a major trophy for three years and has seldom felt further from silverware in its modern history.

"Ticket prices have risen, the public-facing vision remains non-existent and fan favourites are being hastily ushered out of the backdoor.

"When teams are going through challenging periods on the pitch, fans cling to the connection they feel to academy products. Last season, Gallagher's exuberance was a shining light - especially during the difficult early months.

"So, the de-identification of Chelsea continues and the gulf between ownership and fanbase increases."

Conor Gallagher came through Chelsea's academy to become a mainstay of the team and an England international