JONATHAN PANZO looks out in disbelief at the multi-million pound yachts bobbing up and down in Monte Carlo’s Port Hercules.
It is just over a month since the 17-year-old signed a five-year contract with Monaco, opting to leave Chelsea after nine gilded years and head for the opulence of the French Riviera.
Jonathan Panzo moved to Monaco this summer after nine years in Chelsea’s academy
The 17-year-old opted for the Ligue 1 club with a reputation of developing superstars
With Monaco’s rolling hills and the countless Rolls Royce and Ferraris parked up in the harbour, it is a far cry form the rough South London council estate where Panzo grew up.
“There was lots of crime,” the defender tells SunSport.
“Pretty much all the people I know from that area are in jail. All my brother’s friends are in jail.”
But not Panzo. His route from Lewisham to the South of France was by chance and, in truth, a rapid rise that even he has struggled to keep up with.
From an eight-year-old with little interest in football to an U17 World Cup winner with England and one of Europe’s most exciting young prospects, Panzo’s story is an inspiring one.
But this summer brought the most pivotal moment of his career so far.
Panzo spoke to SunSport’s Tom Roddy to explain his journey from rough council estate to Monte Carlo
Darren Fletcher – The Sun
Panzo frequently speaks about the opportunity to seek ‘exposure’
After almost a decade in Chelsea’s academy, on the cusp of a professional contract, he decided a fresh start was needed. The time had come to move on.
“It was about opportunity, really,” Panzo says, leaning back on a sofa in the lobby of the Marriott hotel opposite the King Louis II Stadium.
“Monaco is a big club for developing players from a young age and exposing them at a young age.
“Players like [Kylian] Mbappe, [Tiemoue] Bakayoko and [Benjamin] Mendy had an opportunity here and they took their chance.
“Hopefully Monaco can give me the opportunity to develop and be exposed to the world as well.”
During the hour that Panzo sits down with SunSport, he uses the word ‘exposure’ frequently.
His decision to leave Chelsea this summer was down to his desire to seek exactly that and, in part, to do with the club’s controversial loan system.
Last season, they had 38 players dotted across the continent, from Doncaster to Dortmund, Middlesborough to Moscow.
Rarely do they return—and Panzo was not going to be left in the shadows.
Panzo has signed a five-year deal at Ligue 1 side Monaco
Panzo spent nine years at Chelsea’s academy having had little interest in football as a child
“Young players like me, or a bit older than me, are not getting the best opportunities to show themselves and expose themselves to the world,” he says.
“From what it looks like, it’s good for a certain amount of time. Maybe loan to two clubs and hopefully get your opportunity in the first-team — but it’s harder than that. You’ve got to work harder. Players at Chelsea are talented.
“I wanted to settle down somewhere instead of going back and forth, back and forth.
“I thought settling down somewhere would be better for me as a young player, to get comfortable there and do my thing.
“I just had to be a bit strong and confident in my abilities to expose myself to the world.”
Confidence is something Panzo inherited from his mother, Laurence, a strong figure who has been with him every step of the way and protected her son from exploitative agents.
Panzo has inherited his confidence from his mother Laurence
Chelsea had high hopes for centre-back Panzo at Stamford Bridge
She separated from his father Tony when Panzo was just a toddler, but the two men are back in contact now and texting.
“Growing up, I didn’t live with my dad. It was just my mum and brother,” he explains.
“When I was younger my mum didn’t know about football but as I grew up she learned about what was important and what was not.
“She didn’t want me to play at first; she was more about my education but gradually, as I progressed, she gave me that leeway.”
Laurence, who moved to London from Côte d’Ivoire in 1992, has a Masters in international diplomacy and recently set up a consultancy service for fellow parents dealing with clubs, contracts and agents.
She raised Panzo and his elder brother Chris, 22, who just became a father and is planning to launch a clothing design business, in a two-bedroom flat in Brockley.
Laurence has launched a consultancy service for fellow parents
Panzo, right, with brother Chris at Chelsea’s academy
Laurence says her son was a “very bubbly, joyful boy” who loved to sing and was popular with all his classmates.
She says: “When it came to parents evening all the teachers would say, ‘Jonathan, you are a leader. Everyone is looking up to you so the reason we want you to do your best and behave better than everyone else is because they are watching you.’”
Panzo has a small admission to make, describing himself as “the bad one in school” and that he got into a few fights. All that is way back in the past now, though.
He credits two individuals in particular for that. The first is Godwin Gyamfi, the coach of Tulse Hill Football club, the local team Panzo ended up playing for as an eight-year-old boy.
And the second is Fiona Armfield, the Chelsea scout who first spotted him and took him to Chelsea, guiding him through his adolescence and supporting him on and off the pitch.
Panzo was spotted by Chelsea scout Fiona Armfield – now his godmother
Panzo, second right, after winning a tournament with Chelsea in Holland
Their impact on Panzo’s life was so great that they both became godparents to him.
Meeting Godwin came through Panzo’s support of his cousin William, who played for Tulse Hill. The two boys would meet up after school and “Willy” would take him for a kick-about.
“In Turnham [Road], we played in cages,” Panzo says.
“There was the blue cage and the green cage, so any time we would grab a football and go and play there.
“We would play until it was dark. My boys from primary school would be there and some of the older boys, too.
“Because we used to know how to play we would play with the older boys.”
Yet Panzo had little interest in football at this time.
“I was just doing it for my cousin, to be honest,” he says.
Support for William, who now plays basketball, then extended to travelling down with him and his uncle to watch Tulse Hill play in Dulwich in May 2009.
The 17-year-old’s start in football came from supporting his cousin
Panzo had been in a Saturday school to improve his maths but the centre was closed due to a lack of funding, freeing up his weekend.
“I remember going to watch my cousin with uncle Christophe, literally just stood on the sideline in my tracksuit,” he recalls.
As fate would have it, Tulse Hill were one player short and Godwin asked if Panzo would play.
A mad dash back to the house to collect shin pads and boots ended in him scoring the only goal of the game.
There ensued a battle between the A team and B team for Panzo’s services.
The debate was futile in the end, as within weeks he had been scouted by Armfield and asked to attend Chelsea’s summer camp at the club’s Cobham training base in Surrey.
Among 200 other kids, Panzo was the only one selected to stay on in his age group.
In a matter of three months, he had gone from no club and no interest to representing the team that had just come runners-up in the Champions League.
Panzo, top row second right, was one of the leading members of Chelsea’s academy
Panzo is hoping he will make his breakthrough at Monaco this season
Panzo looks out across the bar and visualises his first game for the club: “When I first came to Chelsea, we were wearing the black kit in that match, I started off as a striker and I scored in that game as well.”
In his last season for Chelsea, under the guidance of departed coach Jody Morris, the team won four trophies and dominated U18s football. But Panzo had a fifth winners’ medal around his neck.
He was at the heart of the England defence that won the U17 World Cup in India in October, coming from behind in the final to thump Spain 5-2.
By two years, I want to be one of the main players for Monaco, playing week-in, week-out
Jonathan Panzo
“There’s nothing better than winning the World Cup,” he says.
“It was amazing playing in front of 60,000 fans and being exposed like that. It was a bonus for us all to make the country proud.”
During our chat Panzo’s phone buzzes. The message is from Manchester United and Côte d’Ivoire defender Eric Bailly, joking with the youngster that he should be playing for the African nation.
He was part of England’s Under-17 World Cup winning side in October
Getty – Contributor
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly joked he should play for the Ivory Coast
But Panzo is clearly proud to play for England.
He recalls the day he found out he was called up to the U14 squad, just three years ago when Laurence forwarded an email on from the Football Association.
“I was buzzing,” he says. “Just imagine a boy not really playing football to playing for his country.”
As a child, his hero had been Cristiano Ronaldo “because of how hard working he is”.
But as time went on and Panzo developed into a defender, his admiration grew for players like John Terry and Sergio Ramos.
“I like players that can play out from the back, I like the ball at my feet, but also players that want to defend,” he says, with emphasis on the final word.
Despite being a prolific goalscorer as a youngster, Panzo’s change to the back line was down to his size.
“Gradually I got taller and became a centre-back,” he says.
And his appearance does not reflect his age. Panzo may be six-foot tall but he seems even bigger as he stretches an arm out across the sofa.
Panzo wants to emulate the likes of John Terry and Sergio Ramos in style
The previous night, he had been introduced to Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin by a mutual friend.
The group had eaten at a local fish restaurant and Panzo was keen to learn from the Spaniard.
“What he told me was good, positive things to take on board,” Panzo explains.
“Not to be afraid to ask the older players like [Radamel] Falcao and experienced players stuff that will benefit me.
“So, for example, with Falcao, asking him what I should do to make it harder for him as a striker.
“And also not being afraid because you’re going to be nervous at some point, but just be yourself. Always listening, always learning.
“Obviously from a player like Hector, doing his thing in the Premier League, it’s cool. He’s a humble guy.”
Darren Fletcher – The Sun
He is currently staying at the Marriott hotel but looking for a permanent home
Getty – Contributor
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has offered him some useful advice
Panzo will act on those words as he looks to hit targets over the next couple of years.
“I just want to settle in and then hopefully, after a few months training with the first team, get my debut coming towards the end of the season,” he says.
“By two years, I want to be one of the main players for Monaco, playing week-in, week-out. Hopefully’s it’s God’s grace I can do well.”
Panzo recently visited Nice with a couple of his new teammates who are trying to learn English while he perfects his French.
“I’m trying, I’m trying!” he says, laughing.
Panzo, right, with former Chelsea youth team player Kayne RamseyThe Marriott has been home for the last month but that will change soon as he has spent the day looking at apartments around the city.
He likes one he viewed, but another one he describes as “too big”.
The reason for this is that Panzo will be living alone, flying the nest for the first time, away from his mum.
Panzo is flying the nest, but he’ll miss his mum
Laurence will visit frequently but Panzo will certainly miss her.
“People say I’m a mummy’s boy but I just love my mum,” he says.
“Sometimes it was difficult for her to be there when I was playing but she always supported me, always motivated me behind the scenes.
“If it was not for her I would not be where I am today.”
And as the sun sets behind the hills of Panzo’s new home, it’s not a bad place for him to be.
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