Former Leeds United and Sheffield United man who made Chelsea bench at 18 still a free agent months after exit

The Blues were hosting Arsenal in front of a 41,801-strong crowd at Stamford Bridge and Blackman was selected to provide cover for the legendary Petr Cech.

A hat-trick from Robin van Persie helped the Gunners run out as 5-3 winners after a hectic 90 minutes, but it will have been a memorable experience for Blackman nonetheless.

An England youth international, the towering stopper appeared to have the world at his feet. However, Blackman was one of many Chelsea prospects who made considerably more appearances out on loan than he did for the Blues.

In fact, when Blackman was allowed to depart permanently in 2021, he had not been afforded a single first-team appearance.

It was not as if none of his loan stints had been productive either. After a spell as an understudy at Middlesbrough, Blackman showed promise across stints at Östersunds FK, Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield United.

When a temporary move to Leeds United was sanctioned in 2018, Blackman appeared to be on the course intended for him. However, injury curtailed his Elland Road stay just as he was about to dislodge Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

It was a setback that appeared to knock Blackman off course, as subsequent spells with Vitesse Arnhem, Bristol Rovers and Rotherham United failed to convince Chelsea of his first-team potential.

Brief periods on the books of Los Angeles FC and Huddersfield Town followed, before Blackman appeared to find a home at Exeter City. He established himself as the Grecians number one during the 2022/23 season yet was not retained for the following campaign.

Addressing the decision to release Blackman, Exeter boss Gary Caldwell told Devon Live: “It was a difficult decision as he came here to show how good a goalie he was and he has had a good season.

“But financially we decided we had to go in a different direction and also felt I wanted a different personality in goal from next year.” A season spent mostly on Burton Albion’s bench followed, before Blackman became a free agent at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The 2024/25 campaign is in full swing and the 30-year-old remains unattached, although it is not because the phone has not been ringing.

He was offered a contract by League Two newcomers Chesterfield in August, but opted to turn down the offer.

The goalkeeper is set to turn 31 later this month and his dreams of being a Premier League stopper are most likely now in his rear view mirror. However, those who have followed his career will be watching on with intrigue when he takes on his next challenge.