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A £22 million move to Fulham was on track to leave Chelsea in the summer, but it was only completed late on deadline day.

The 19-year-old, who had a first-team lifeline, played a pivotal role as the Blues came back from a Carabao Cup defeat at Lincoln City.

Rob Street’s effort gave the League One side adeserved lead at half-time, but George hit a fine half-volley in the 48th minute before giving it to Facundo Buonanotte to score the winning goal two minutes later.

The academy graduate’s vital contribution to his fight for the future at his boyhood club is now in full swing.

George stepped up after struggling with his teammates as a lone striker rather than as a winger under the aggressive direction of Lincoln.

A humiliating defeat at Sincil Bank would undoubtedly have posed doubts about Enzo Maresca’s ability to manage Chelsea’s development following back-to-back defeats against Bayern Munich and Manchester United in the Champions League.

The Italian said he “absolutely” fired his players into action during the half-time break to end their comeback.

Because they are the most direct team in League One, crosses, free kicks, throw-ins, and other such situations require you to defend them, said Maresca.

“I am aware that some of them never played these kinds of games. In the first half, we had a little trouble, but in the second half, we were much better.

George was deemed surplus to requirements as Chelsea made a number of attacking signings for their squad in the summer.

He had earlier spoken with RB Leipzig about moving to Fulham, but the Cottagers chose to sign wingers Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze as a result, leading to Harry Wilson’s own collapse.

However, George’s performance as a deputy only fit for Joao Pedro’s fourth start and return could prove to be a disguised blessing.

Despite the Spaniard being called out from a loan deal at Sunderland on deadline day to replace the injured Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson left for Bayern Munich, Maresca chose the teenager at the expense of a natural striker in the Premier League.

Guiu was eligible to play in Tuesday’s third-round tie despite being eligible as a result of a recent change in EFL regulations governing cup-tied players.

Maresca, however, said he didn’t want to risk playing Guiu because he “felt something” during Monday training.

However, George showed promise with a strong finish and poise to sign Buonanotte, who he also signed on-time for a loan from Brighton on deadline day.

Breakthrough, loan, and first team are typical paths taken by Chelsea academy graduates. Or sale, loan, or breakthrough.

In the last ten years, the Blues have acquired more than 40 native players and made $ 315 million from the sale of academy-trained talent, or £100 million more than Manchester City.

However, their most recent high-profile prospect George has bucked that trend and can see how Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, and Reece James have risen to prominence in the first-team.

George became the Premier League’s 19-year-old scorer with a 20-day strike against Fulham on April 20 at the age of 19 years and 75 days, joining Callum Hudson-Odoi as the club’s youngest scorer since January 2020 when he scored against Burnley.

The winger played more than 750 minutes in 12 Conference League games, including a goal in the quarter-final first-leg win at Legia Warsaw, along with Carabao Cup games against Barrow and Morecambe, substitute league games against Arsenal and Brighton, and more than 750 minutes in the opener.

George turned 19 in February, and he is reversing the “Chelsea” narrative thanks to a level of dedication that is unusual in a time of youth development.

One of his idols, Hudson-Odoi, was the last Chelsea player to enter the first team on a loan program in January 2018.

Up until about the age of 10, George was a “middling” player in his early years at Chelsea, according to a source close to the source.

His father hired a goalkeeper as well as a personal coach, David “Gurus” Sobers, to improve his game at that time.

George would begin his training with Chelsea in midweek, and then, starting at age 13, he would start playing in South London’s Vauxhall or Nine Elms Power League nine-a-side games.

Before returning to Chelsea on Sunday, he would practice on Saturdays once more and conduct post-game analysis with Sobers from his Power League games the night before.

As I believed I could assist him, Sobers claimed, “I used to spend hours traveling on public transportation for two-hour sessions, or longer, with Tyrique.”

We would spend hours working on one-on-one, technical, and shooting drills, and I liked how much he exerted himself.

“I’d be a bad’ referee when he played against 18-year-olds, so he would get kicked,” he said, “but I had to get up and win the ball back.”

Manager Jimmy Thelin says Aberdeen have hit “rock bottom” after an insipid defeat by Dundee United left them adrift in the Scottish Premiership.

Ivan Dolcek and Vicko Sevelj struck either side of half-time for United to leave the Pittodrie side with just one point from their opening five matches, having failed to score in each of them.

Despite their Scottish Cup triumph in May, Aberdeen have won only four times in the top flight in 2025 and they were booed by the away end on the full-time whistle after a flat performance pock-marked with mistakes.

Thelin did not sugar coat the situation post-match, saying “this was rock bottom”.

The Swede added: “We can’t go deeper than we are right now. We need to step up and not have this tension when we play. We’re all too tense.

Thelin oversaw a significant turnover of players in the summer, as Aberdeen invested a large sum of money in reshaping the squad after their Hampden triumph.

However, the manager does not yet seem to have settled on his best team, with changes in midfield par for the course game to game.

Kevin Nisbet has struggled so far to replicate the impact he had while on loan last season, while Bologna loanee Jesper Karlsson has tried plenty without much coming off. Granted, both have only played three times so far.

Another deadline-day arrival, Stuart Armstrong, is short of match fitness but the 53-time Scotland cap grew into the game at Tannadice and hit the bar.

Thelin pointed him out as an example for others to follow when they face League Cup conquerors Motherwell on Saturday (17:45 BST).

“As individuals, I know the players can do better but we have to be more focused and trust our quality,” Thelin said.

“Stuart did really well, he has experience, there is a lot of expectation but he plays very composed and that’s what we need to spread through the whole team.

One only had to look at the away supporters that remained after the match at Tannadice to understand the discontent among the Aberdeen fanbase.

Thelin stood stony-faced with his players as fans booed and stood with arms wide, asking what has gone wrong.

“The fans are not applauding the players back, all they’re getting is abuse,” Aberdeen legend Willie Miller said on Sportsound. “There’s nothing to be celebrated for Aberdeen just now.

“Even through the bad results last season, the fans stayed and applauded. But this season, they’re away home before the final whistle. The next stage is usually a few banners and a wee demonstration outside.

“Thelin needs results quickly. Starting with Motherwell at Fir Park is a huge task.”

Thelin says he understands the strength of feeling and insists it’s on him and the players to provide some positivity on the pitch.

“It’s tough,” he said. “We shared with the supporters after the game that they’re angry and frustrated with our performance and result.

Olly: An Aberdeen manager losing their job after a loss to Dundee United? The ghost of Roy Aitken is peering over Jimmy’s shoulder…

Alistair: Disgraceful that Dons fans are singing for Jimmy Thelin to be ‘sacked in the morning’. Don’t bother coming back if that’s how you feel.

Ross: We always question the manager but surely the players need to have some pride in what they do.players need to take responsibility and fight for the club in these tough times.

Malc: Tempting to bin JT in the morning – but let’s not unless there’s a genuine, viable, committed alternative lined up and ready to hit the ground running.

Martin: Thelin must go now, no improvement, ots baffling on why He cant get thus team motivated, I personally think there’s something wrong in the dressing room, Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but you need to go.

Dave: Change of formation and shape has to happen now for Thelin. He bravely changed to win the cup final and now has to change again, away from this failed 4-2-3-1 shambles.

Matthew: We keep with the same formation that has failed us consistently since November. Five wins in 32 league games is the sort of form that doesn’t give you any leeway. You can change personnel but it’s the formation that needs to change. Which he’s shown he won’t. Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but times up I’m afraid.

Graham: The message is simple now. Thelin is not good enough for AFC. Must go unfortunately.

Aldo: Thelin has to go. The tactics are terrible, a squad of supposedly creative players create no chances whatsoever. Beating a few lower division teams and a terrible Hearts, then a flukey win over Celtic on pens should not keep him in the job.

SPB: The rather bizarre Scottish Cup final gave him a stay of execution. He won’t see out the year I’m afraid. His purple patch last year – when he blew a fantastic start – is all he has achieved in his tenure. He’s not the only one who should be walking at the club.

Ally: Awful! Lazy and slow. No passion, no heart. I’m afraid the bell tolls for the Aberdeen manager. Faith in your shape has failed! Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but fare thee well!

Denis: Board must act now. Give Leven a few games as he was up for it last year when acted as interim manager.

Neil: Can someone tell Thelin that performing the same experiment (formation) over and over again, and expecting different results, is the definition of insanity! Adapt, or go!