The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the most well run sports franchises on the planet. The MLB team is not only one of the most successful clubs in American sports, it’s also been touted as one of the most valuable franchises in the world. Taking all of this into consideration, it was a bit odd to hear that a vocal portion of Chelsea’s fanbase was questioning what life would be like under the ownership of Todd Boehly. The part-owner Los Angeles’ most successful baseball team has always been a fantastic businessman. While change is a scary thing, Boehly is doing his best to ensure the Blues supporters hardly realize there is a new regime at the helm.
The new ownership group has picked up the baton from right where Roman Abramovich left it and began to run with it. Things got off to a slow start as Boehly and Co. dealt with other pressing issues within the club, but once they set their sights on the transfer market, it was game over for opposing clubs. The Blues have already added three elite talents to their ranks in former Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling, former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and former Brighton defender Marc Cucurella. However, the club is not only planning for the present.
Chelsea is bolstering its youth ranks, as well, adding a ton of talented, young stars from around the continent. Eddie Beach, Gabriel Slonina, Omari Hutchinson and Zak Sturge have all been signed within the last few weeks to strengthen the future of the club. The Blues aren’t stopping there though. Additionally, they have serious interest in Brazilian wonderkid Endrick and Inter Milan’s Cesare Casadei. Despite all of this activity, it was the teenager that the club signed as its fourth official addition of the summer that has fans the most excited for the future.
It’s time to take a dive into the career of the Blues’ latest talented teenage signing, former Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka:
1. History
Although Chukwuemeka is known to many as an England under-19 international, he was actually born in Austria in 2003. He began his football career with Northampton Town at a young age. He moved northwest to Birmingham at the age of 12 to join Aston Villa’s academy in 2016. His progression from here on was rapid as it took the midfielder just four years to earn a professional contract with the Claret and Blue.
Chukwuemeka got his professional debut less than a year later, coming on in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. He capped off his exciting 2020/21 campaign by winning Aston Villa’s Academy Player of the Year and winning the FA Youth Cup with the club’s under-18s. The teenager earned his first senior start in August of the same year against newly promoted Brentford.
Chukwuemeka went on to have a performance that would catapult him into the first team for 11 more Premier League matches in the 2021/22 season and an additional two games in the EFL Cup. At the end of the day, the midfielder felt as if it was in his best interest to leave Villa Park in search of more game time and an overall change of scenery.
2. Is he any good?
The fact that Chelsea was willing to fork over a total of £20 million (£15 million plus add-ons) for an 18-year-old who played just 13 games in the Premier League last season should tell you everything you need to know. Furthermore, the Blues paid this fee knowing full well Chukwuemeka had just one year remaining on his contract. Chelsea had to submit a worthwhile bid in order to fend off other interested parties circling the English youngster like vultures.
When Chukwuemeka made it abundantly clear that he would not re-sign with the Birmingham-based club—despite being offered a potential new deal that would’ve made him the highest paid teenager in the country—clubs interested in enlisting for his services came out of every crevice. Some of Europe’s most storied teams were waiting in the wings, most notably AC Milan and Barcelona. Yet, it was the Blues who managed to get the deal done with complete secrecy, shocking fans and journalists alike in the process. For anyone still wondering whether or not Chukwuemeka is any good, the aforementioned list of clubs should answer that question.
If the list of his suitors is not enough to convince you, he’s managed to have some success, even at such a young age. After his first start in the Premier League against the Bees, former manager and pundit Paul Merson had this to say about Chukwuemeka:
"“He will be an absolute star. He glides across the pitch. He is a nice size. He gets on the ball. He looks for it and makes runs without the ball. I think Villa fans going away will definitely be talking about him.”"
Chukwuemeka has the accolades to back up his status as well. As mentioned earlier, he is the reigning Academy Player of the Year for Aston Villa. The 18-year-old was most recently named to the UEFA Team of the Tournament at the UEFA European U19 Championships after helping England to a title win over Israel. Chukwuemeka was largely hailed as the best player on the Young Lions’ squad, as well. Suffice it to say, Chelsea has a gem on its hands.
3. What does this mean for the midfielders?
All things considered, Chukwuemeka’s addition to the Blues’ ranks does little to change the picture in the middle of the park. Thomas Tuchel has already confirmed that the teenager will remain with the club for the 2022/23 campaign—as opposed to going out on loan—but there are a lot of questions about where he fits in.
Chukwuemeka was not named to the 20-man matchday squad during the club’s trip to Goodison Park on matchday one, despite training with the first team from the moment he signed. Chelsea has a lot of depth currently in the midfield, although admittedly, that could change with three weeks left in the transfer window. Right now, the Blues have Conor Gallagher, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek playing in the middle of the park.
Chukwuemeka does bring something different to this unit in the fact that he’s a little more attack-minded in his approach, which is perhaps why Tuchel wanted to keep him around this season. He’s known for his ball-carrying abilities and eye for a progressive pass. The introduction of five substitutions in the Premier League this season will give the gaffer a few more opportunities to find time for Chukwuemeka. He will also provide some fresh legs before and after the World Cup stoppage, as he won’t be going with Gareth Southgate’s squad barring an unforeseen miracle.
If Chukwuemeka makes it to January without any minutes in the first team, there is an opportunity for the Blues to reassess the situation. The way the managerial staff has spoken of the midfielder though, it’s hard to see that being the case. He can also always stay fresh by playing games for the youth sides, considering he’s still just a teenager.
Even though Chukwuemeka’s addition doesn’t do much in the short term, he represents the next generation of talented youth around Cobham. He, Gallagher and Harvey Vale will presumably all be reaching the primes of their promising careers when the current crop of Champions League-winning midfielders move on from Chelsea. It’s one for the future, for sure. If Tuchel can find space for him in the present, even better.
What do you make of the addition of Chukwuemeka? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!