Chelsea set to make its third summer signing next week

Chelsea supporters have gotten fed up with the club over the last few weeks over the pace at which it’s completing transfers. Despite losing a couple of defenders in June due to contract expiry, the Blues have only gotten two new signings through the door in over a month. Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling are excellent additions to the team, fans are just left wanting more as they watch Thomas Tuchel’s side struggle in preseason due to the lack of depth within their ranks. It’s not an easy process—especially for new owners—there is just more that can be done in the eyes of the supporters. Barcelona hijacking the Jules Kounde and Raphinha deals didn’t exactly help calm the fans’ nerves either.

Regardless of the letdowns thus far, Todd Boehly remains hard at work. He and his consortium of new owners are exploring all avenues as they try to build a squad capable of keeping up with Chelsea’s big six rivals. While many are focused on the present as the Blues’ opponents strengthen, the club’s hierarchy continues to plan for the future. Chelsea is set to make its third signing of the summer this weekend, and the newest addition is undoubtedly one for the future.

Chelsea set to sign Chicago Fire and United States goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina

The Blues are set to make Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina their third addition under the Boehly regime. Chelsea will pay a base fee of around £8 million to Chicago for its promising, young shot-stopper, which can rise to £12 million with add-ons. The United States U20 international will remain in Chicago for the remainder of his current side’s campaign before he joins up with Tuchel’s men in January. Slonina will take a trip to London in the coming days with his agents. There, he will sign a long-term contract with the reigning Club World Cup Champions before flying back to Chicago.

It goes without saying that this transfer has been a long time coming. The Blues reportedly had a verbal agreement with both the player and the American club early in 2022, before the sanctions were brought down. The United Kingdom government’s stranglehold on Chelsea led to some uncertainty over the transfer as it could not buy or sell any players until a takeover was completed. Luckily, Boehly and Co. were swift in re-entering negotiations with the Fire and they were able to secure the signing of the promising young star.

Slonina has enjoyed a breakthrough last two seasons with the MLS side, where he has attracted interest from all over Europe. Real Madrid attempted to swoop in and steal the 18-year-old from under Chelsea’s nose, but in the end, the Spanish giants were unsuccessful. The Blues are now getting one of the most sought after talents to come out of America in recent years.

There is no telling what the future holds for Slonina at this moment in time as he’s still a teenager and the west Londoners are still shuffling things around. Chelsea’s long-time No. 2 goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, looks to be on his way out in the next few weeks. The Spaniard is wanted by Napoli, who is reportedly in talks with the Blues to sign the goalkeeper on loan with an option to buy likely to be included. It’s unclear whether third keeper Marcus Bettinelli will step into the back-up role until Slonina joins up with the side after the World Cup, but it’s certainly a possibility. Youth keeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe also spent a lot of time with Tuchel’s first team during the preseason. Regardless of what happens in Chelsea’s goalkeeping room right now, the Blues are now set for the future with Slonina on their books.

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