Carney Chukwuemeka will be permanently transferred from Aston Villa to Chelsea on an estimated £20 million cost.
The 18-year-old is permitted to go to London to discuss personal matters and get checked up.
He played in 12 Premier League games last season, but only started twice. It’s believed he wants to play in more games in the top division.
Chukwuemeka, a member of the England U19 team that won the European Championship championship this summer, was reportedly uninterested in talking about a new contract with the team he has been with since he was 12 years old in late July, according to Sky Sports News.
Borussia Dortmund had inquired about signing him, and Barcelona had expressed interest. Chukwuemeka was eager to speak with Dortmund about the possibility after seeing the opportunities given to other young England exports like Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham.
Even though he was not included in the team’s summer tour to Australia, Steven Gerrard had earlier stated that he was still in his plans for the coming campaign, adding that it would be ideal for him to continue his training programme at Bodymoor (the training facility at Heath).
Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and young players Eddie Beach from Southampton and Omari Hutchinson from Arsenal have all previously been acquired by the Blues this summer.
Villa got a good deal at £20 million.
“He’s been described as one of the best young players in England, the reason Aston Villa have sold him is because he only has a year left on his contract.
“When it became clear he wasn’t going to sign a new contract, he was left out of their squad for their pre-season tour. Aston Villa were willing to let him leave as long as they got the right price. From Villa’s point of view, £20m for an 18-year-old player, is a good deal.
“He was also a part of the England U19 side that won the U19 Euros last month and he was in the Team of the Tournament.
“Chelsea are not just signing big-name players like Kalidou Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling, they almost have a twin-track approach this summer, buying up some of the best young players in England.
“They signed Omari Hutchinson, an 18-year-old winger from Arsenal, and they’ve added Carney Chukwuemeka as well.”
Reddy: Chukwuemeka is a gem of Villa’s academy
“Chukwuemeka is a very good player. At 16, he was deemed the best 16-year-old in the country, he was already starting for Villa’s U23s and is the gem of their youth system, who they’re very proud of.
“This is very surprising – not in the way that Chelsea have come up with a few shocks – but it was thought he would be heading elsewhere in Europe. Dortmund were very keen, as were Milan, Barcelona got very far in negotiations. It was just the valuation which put those teams off.
“While he is a phenomenal talent at 18, it’s still a bit much to pay when there is no guarantees over how he will continue to develop.
“Chelsea have got themselves a kid who has extraordinary vision, so composed in possession, dribbling awareness and has real surety in himself. I’m excited to see how he develops if he gets the opportunity to advance as he has done at Villa.
