Anderlecht have confirmed youngster Tudor Mendel-Idowu’s move to the Blues.


As reported on Friday, the Blues and Belgian side agreed a deal for the former Chelsea youngster, who will go into John McGreal and David Wright’s development squad, ahead of the transfer window closing.

A statement on the Belgian club’s website reads: “After a season with RSCA Futures, Tudor Mendel-Idowu has joined English side Ipswich Town on a permanent transfer.

“Last season, the 19-year-old winger played 16 games in the Challenger Pro League. He has now opted for a new challenge with the club that was recently promoted to the Premier League. Good luck for the future, Tudor.”

Slough-born Mendel-Idowu (above, right) came through the ranks at Chelsea having joined them aged eight before making his move to Belgium in 2023.

As well as his footballing prowess, former England U16 and U17 international Mendel-Idowu was a child prodigy academically, coming second in Child Genius in 2014 and at 13 was made a King's Scholar at Eton - putting him among the top 14 brightest students in the country - having previously been a boarder at the prestigious Ludgrove School.

In 2022, it was reported he was studying Latin, Greek and Modern History for his A-levels.

Mendel-Idowu's grandfather on his mother's side, John Adeleye-Abai, played international football as a winger for Nigeria.

Photo: KURT DESPLENTER/Belga/Sipa USA

Help added 21:38 - Sep 3 wow
2

ArmaghBlue added 21:43 - Sep 3 Looks impressive on the ball. Welcome to the club
4

CherryHintonBlue added 22:45 - Sep 3 I think academically he's moved on from your report above, and has been studying for a classics degree at Oxford for the past year. Presumably he's doing this remotely to fit in with his footballing career?
1

DifferentGravy added 00:06 - Sep 4 Contrary to the style and coaching of modern football.....this lad is very skillful......albeit in youth football. Hope he can step up to the senior level and play a big part.
2

cooper4england added 00:55 - Sep 4 nearly as clever as phil whelan
1

Van_Blue added 04:07 - Sep 4 Have to wonder if Omari had anything to do with this? "Hey Boss, there's this kid I played on the same team at Chelsea......"
1

victorysquad added 05:11 - Sep 4 Forget the academy, get him in the 1st team, looks like he could be a great sub to bring on and run at tired defenders.
-3

LegendofthePhoenix added 06:13 - Sep 4 He'll be well able to communicate with Fotis Ioannidis when he arrives in January.
3

bobble added 07:32 - Sep 4 I wonder how often he confuses himself as well as the defender
0

FabianMalyon added 08:29 - Sep 4 Players "pub quiz" nights should be pretty interesting now..
3

Bluebass added 09:45 - Sep 4 Looks like a super prospect and good luck to him. Sorry to be a bore, though, but winning one of 14 scholarships for Eton doesn't necessarily make him one of the brightest 14 students in the country ... that would assume that every student in the country had applied. Let's please not assume that Eton is above us all, those days have gone.
8

Bazza8564 added 10:36 - Sep 4 Talented and bright, looks a great prospect
2

PackwoodBlue added 12:56 - Sep 4 What a good player he looks! Welcome Tudor, wishing you a long and successful career at ITFC.
3

Carberry added 14:35 - Sep 4 There are normally two reasons for comments like that Bluebass, one is envy and the other is ignorance. Which category do you fall into?
4

Leathersblueblood added 15:53 - Sep 4 Had a liitle chat with him yesterday, very polite, exactly the type of character king Kieran is looking for in a player, good luck to him.
1

Crawfordsboot added 16:48 - Sep 4 Perhaps he is neither envious nor ignorant but instead simply pedantic.
0

Bluebass added 16:34 - Sep 5 There's a third one, Carberry, it's called reality. I have no envy and I'm not ignorant although, fair play to Crawfordsboot, I am partial to a bit of pedantic from time to time.
0

Bluebass added 16:36 - Sep 5 Also it was purposely provocative to see what the reactions were, so im glad you responded, thank you. Overall, more positive than negative feedback. We're all Town fans though so still love you
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