Chelsea Agree £12 Million Deal As Kepa Arrizabalaga Nears Loan Move To Napoli

Chelsea have agreed to sign Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire, according to reports. 

The 18-year-old has been linked with Thomas Tuchel’s side and Real Madrid over a transfer, but the Blues look to have won the race for the talented goalkeeper. 

Slonina has been of interest to Chelsea but after negotiations, a move was put on hold by the west London side. 

It remained unclear over whether or not Chelsea would resume their pursuit and it has been revealed by Fabrizio Romano that they have. 

Chelsea have agreed a deal of around £12 million including add-ons with the MLS side for the teenager, who will return on loan to see out the campaign with the American side before returning to London on January 1st 2022. 

Slonina will fly to England on Sunday to undergo his medical ahead of penning a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge. 

Personal terms were already agreed between the player and Chelsea earlier this month. 

This comes after it was reported by the Italian and English media that Kepa Arrizabalaga was closing in on a loan move to Napoli.

Talks have been held between the two clubs and an agreement is expected to be reached in the coming days. 

Chelsea are likely to cover a significant amount of the Spaniard’s wages as he departs to find regular game time as he eyes a place in Spain’s 2022 World Cup squad.

With Kepa set to leave this summer on loan, Marcus Bettinelli could be promoted to Edouard Mendy's back-up at Stamford Bridge, unless another goalkeeper is signed this summer.

Thomas Tuchel has been promised up to six signings this summer and it remains unclear if Slonina's acquisition will count towards that figure.

Chelsea have bagged a goalkeeper for the future, but they will have to wait to see the teenager until 2023 when he arrives in the capital.

Kepa offered an update on his future last month, admitting: "Obviously, I want to play more. It’s true that he’s choosing another teammate (Mendy) and that’s what I’m trying to change in my day-to-day life. I want to play and that’s what I train and prepare for.

"Right now I’m a Chelsea player, but what is clear to me is that I want to play more, because I’ve come from a year or two where, when I’ve played, I’ve had great performances.

"For that reason, for the good performances I’ve had, the feeling is that I want more. I want to play more. I’m at Chelsea and I want to succeed here. And if I can’t, we would look at different things, because my clear objective is to play.

"I’m not desperate. At the end of the day, I’m at a very big club. I will talk to the coach and we will decide, but with the clear message that I want to play more."