Brentford B defender Joseph Wheeler-Henry has discussed his six years at Chelsea’s Academy, how his sprinting and athletics background unearthed his long throw and what he has learned from El Hadji Malick Diouf and Benjamin Fredrick.
Wheeler-Henry joined the Bees from Chelsea ahead of this season after a successful loan spell at the back end of the 2025/26 campaign.
The versatile right-back has had a brilliant start to the Academy’s first season at Category One level, learning at every opportunity across a variety of positions.
What really stands out when watching Wheeler-Henry is his pure, raw speed. It is therefore no surprise that he had to make the decision to pursue either sprinting or football.
“My sister used to do high jump in athletics. I used to watch her and then I started,” he said, reflecting on his entrance into athletics.
“I was doing athletics quite seriously until about year 10. I used to compete at county and club level, but then football got quite serious and I had to pick one or the other.
“I did both 100 and 200 metres. In year 10 I ran 100 metres in 10.9 seconds. That was quite a while ago, so I'd be quicker now.
“I competed in English Schools and came second in that for 200 metres."
It was perhaps then a silly question to ask Wheeler-Henry whether he was the fastest in the squad.
“100 per cent, no question about it,” he laughed. “I always back myself when I'm in a foot race with anyone.
“When I face up my man, I try and knock it past them and if I take a good touch, it's really hard for them to stop me.
“Similarly, I have so much confidence that I can catch anyone when I’m tracking back.”
Pace and power have obvious advantages in football, but the young defender said it can be difficult to balance such explosive speed with the technical side of the game.
“The actual running part is natural to me, and I don’t have to think about,” said Wheeler-Henry.
“When I'm dribbling with the ball it’s about not getting ahead of myself and not running past the ball.
“That’s why I just need to keep working on my end product because it's all well and good beating my man, but I want to be able to help the team with more goals and assists.”
His history with athletics also unlocked a trait that gives the young Bees a real weapon from the flanks.
“I used to do javelin and discus, and I could throw it quite far,” he remembered.
“I took throw-ins at Sunday league and realised I could really launch them.
“I used to smash it at the keeper, and it would bounce in; that's when I realised I had a good throw. I’ve got two assists from them already for Brentford.”
Wheeler-Henry’s throw is so impressive that as a youth player at Chelsea, he was called upon when the Blues were preparing to take on the Bees.
“I used to take them for the first team whenever they were training ahead of Brentford,” he recalled
“They needed me to take them, and they used to be quite loopy so the set-piece coach at Chelsea, Bernardo Cueva [previously of Brentford], taught me how to do a flat one.”
Looking back at his six years spent at Cobham, Wheeler-Henry remembers the football education he received training against some of the brightest talents in world football.
“There are a lot of people fighting for their position. They buy a lot of their players as well, so you've always got to be switched on,” he said.
“Rio Ngumoha or Ryan McAidoo really stood out in one v ones against them. They tested me a lot in training and that helped me in the long run.
“Players like Shim Mheuka and Kobe Barbour also helped me a lot in terms of my defensive abilities.”
Wheeler-Henry’s performances for Sam Saunders’ side have seen him train with the first team on several occasions, an opportunity that the defender has taken to learn from those in his position.
“It was quite challenging and I was a bit nervous at first, but then when you realise everyone's there just to play football, I started to feel at ease,” he said.
“Recently when I trained with Malick Diouf, he was unreal. His counter-press was relentless; every time someone lost it, it would always be him to win it back.
“His quality on the ball is amazing; his crossing is crazy. All around the pitch he gives so much going forwards and going back.
“When I played alongside Benjamin Fredrick as well [against Hull for the under-21s] I was watching him defend - he just never gets beaten! He knows how to win the ball back every time.
“I look at him and try and use it for my game. We have similar traits and his experience with Nigeria means he is someone I look up to in terms of defending.”
Now thriving on the red and white side of west London, the full-back says the club’s culture was a huge driving force in his decision to make the move permanent.
“I really felt the love from the coaches and players when I came here on loan; they welcomed me in,” said Wheeler-Henry.
“The style of football definitely suits me, even without the long throw, because it maximises my ability.
“Saunds has helped me massively, as a person and in games. Every team talk, he says: ‘Be the best human being you can be, and you'll start winning.’
“That's what helps us get results. If you lose the ball, he makes you feel like you have to be the one to win it back.
“He’s given me loads of tips and is always positive. He doesn't care if I lose the ball, he wants me to take on my man again and again, just so I can get better. You know that all the staff want the best for you.”