Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina has signed a six-year deal to join the Blues after completing his medical, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the move.
The 18-year-old has been heavily linked with a switch to Thomas Tuchel’s side this summer and it appears that the Blues have finally got their man.
Kepa Arrizabalaga looks to be on his way out of Chelsea after playing back-up to Edouard Mendy since the Senegal international’s arrival in London.
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.
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"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.”
Talks have been held between Chelsea and Napoli over a loan move for the Spaniard and an agreement is expected to be reached in the coming days.
The Serie A side are set to pay a significant amount of Kepa’s wages in order to see him move to Italy for the season.
Marcus Bettinelli could be promoted from his role as third choice goalkeeper in order to provide cover for Mendy, with Slonina set to join the club in January.
The deal for the MLS star has all but been confirmed now, with Italian transfer insider Romano giving the move his trademark ‘here we go!’.
Taking to Twitter, he revealed the details of the transfer, stating: “Gabriel Slonina has just signed the contract with Chelsea after medical on Monday - finally sealed between clubs/player.”
The journalist continued to state that the 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a six-year deal, seeing him sign for the Blues until 2028.
The goalkeeper will remain at Chicago Fire on loan until the end of the MLS season before joining his Chelsea teammates, with a fee of $15 million with add-ons included.
Furthermore, MLS insider Tom Bogert confirmed the deal, stating that the transfer is ‘signed, sealed and done’.
Bogert stated that Chelsea have beaten competition from Real Madrid in order to sign Slonina, who will likely become the third signing of the summer.
Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have arrived, while Brighton defender Marc Cucurella could soon be through the door.
It remains to be seen as to how many more additions the Blues will make this summer, with the Premier League season commencing on Saturday.
Topics: Chelsea, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours, Gabriel Slonina, Football, Transfers
Nick Emms