Chelsea announced their third summer signing for the men’s team this morning in the shape of Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa.
The 18-year-old England youth international is one of the most highly rated players in the game coming up through the ranks, and he already got into double figures for appearances for Villa’s first team last season, showing just what a player, he is and the maturity he has.
For me, signing this player now, who was being chased by all the top clubs in Europe including Barcelona, is a huge statement of intent from Chelsea’s new owners who are clearly building for the present and for the future.
I was fully expecting the young midfielder to be heading out on loan. But judging by Todd Boehly’s comments on the Chelsea website for the announcement of the player, confirming he will be in the squad this season, and also the fact he has been pictured already in training today with Thomas Tuchel, says that he has been signed for the first team for the here and now. And it is THAT fact that really shows a positive new direction from the new Chelsea owners.
The main man straight in to the thick of it! pic.twitter.com/n8gQ3YjfUW
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) August 4, 2022
Previously we have signed these quality young players and then sent them out on numerous loan moves, often failures, and then their development is stunted.
On this occasion, it looks like we are giving Chukwuemeka every chance to now play in Chelsea’s first team right away.
What an unreal signing by the way, really good.
