Chelsea set to pay world-record fee for player as Todd Boehly spending spree continues

Chelsea have continued their spending spree under Todd Boehly as they are set to splash a world record fee for a 14-year-old wonderkid from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Chelsea have been by far the most aggressive spenders in the Premier League since the club was taken over by American billionaire Todd Boehly in 2022.

Despite Boehly spending a staggering reported 1.1 billion euros on signings, the club's performances on the pitch have significantly fallen away with the club finishing 12th last season in the Premier League.

This season hasn't been much better for the 2021 Champions League winners, as they continue to reside in mid table and had a crushing Carabao Cup final defeat to a Liverpool side missing key players.

Although players like Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk arriving for huge fees and making a minimal impact, Chelsea continue to splash the cash and are reportedly about to make a record-breaking deal.

However, this time around it isn't Chelsea who are dictating the price

as Football Insider have reported the club are going to be forced to pay a staggering £4.25m for a player they signed in 2022.

The player in question is Shumaira Mheuka (now 16), who signed for the club when he was just 14 years old from Brighton.

The report reads: "We're told Chelsea to pay Brighton a record fee for a 14-year-old of up to £4.25m for Shumaira Mheuka. A tribunal has just ordered Chelsea to pay an initial £1m that will rise to £4.25m with add-ons if performance clauses are met."

Mheuka's transfer will involve an initial fee of £1 million, with the potential to rise to £4.25 million. Brighton & Hove Albion would receive the full amount if Mheuka plays 100 games for Chelsea and earns a cap for England.

Mheuka's transfer will involve an initial fee of £1 million, with the potential to rise to £4.25 million.

Shumaira Mheuka- Getty

Brighton would only receive the full amount if Mheuka plays 100 games for Chelsea and earns a cap for England, which isn't actually too unrealistic given the hype surrounding the youngster.

Born in England to Zimbabwean parents, Mheuka joined Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of nine. He progressed through Brighton & Hove Albion's academy, making his debut at the under-18 level at just fourteen years old prior to signing for Chelsea.

The current British record fee for a 14-year-old according to Transfermarkt is the £2 million Liverpool paid to MK Dons for Sheyi Ojo, a record Chelsea could be set to double with Mheuka.