Chelsea and battling Man City to sign one of the UK’s brightest schoolboy prospects.
Ethan Nwaneri made his first appearance in the Premier League at 15 years and 181 days, making him the youngest player to ever feature in the English top flight. But his schoolboy registration expires on Friday, and he has yet to agree a proper deal with current club Arsenal.
That means top teams are circling to try and tempt him away, and according to the Evening Standard that includes Chelsea. We managed to persuade Omari Hutchinson to make a similar switch a year ago, and we’re clearly hoping that Nwaneri will also be tempted.
Arsenal have done their best to provide him with a pathway to the first team – not just giving him that historic debut, but also taking him on their mid season training camp and integrating him into training. It will be hard to persuade him he’s better set abandoning that for the youth star’s graveyard that is Stamford Bridge – but who knows.
Chelsea would have to pay a compensation fee set by tribunal if they do end up signing the talent, who can’t sign a professional deal until his 17th birthday.
Todd Boehly and his ownership ground have put a huge amount of effort into signing some of the best young British talent around, and this would be a real coup for them as they look to expand that project futher.
