Chelsea is on the brink of bolstering its squad, with advanced negotiations in progress to sign United States international left-back Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United. While the deal is yet to be sealed, reports indicate that Wiley might initially hone his skills at French club Strasbourg before making his way to the English Premier League.
At a tender age of 19, Wiley has already made a significant impact in Major League Soccer. Since joining Atlanta United's academy in 2016, he has racked up 81 first-team appearances for Atlanta United and earned two senior international caps for the USMNT , although he did not make the squad for this summer's Copa America.
Chelsea's transfer strategy for the summer of 2024 seems set to continue the same controversial trend that has seen the club splurge on numerous young talents since Clearlake Capital took over and appointed Todd Boehly as chairman. However, to ensure they comply with financial regulations and make room for these new recruits, the club needs to offload players like Ian Maatsen, who has finalized a move to Aston Villa, and Omari Hutchinson, who is on the verge of sealing a permanent move to Ipswich Town.
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The club is scouting for a striker, a goalkeeper, and a left-back, with Wiley fitting perfectly into their blueprint. As per The Athletic , Chelsea IS deep into discussions about a transfer but L'Equipe reports that Strasbourg is optimistic about signing him, a move which would ultimately pave his way to Stamford Bridge.
The bond between Chelsea and Strasbourg was cemented when the ownership company of Chelsea announced in June 2023 that they had agreed to acquire a majority stake in the French Ligue 1 club. This strategic move aimed to encourage mutual and sustainable investments in Strasbourg's development, including the first teams and the academy, promising a bright future for both clubs.
This plan was initially built on the foundation laid by Marc Keller, who will continue as the club's president. Since taking over in 2022, Boehly and his team have invested over $1 billion in Chelsea.
Wiley made his debut with Atlanta United 2 in 2020 as he climbed through the club's ranks. By 2022, he had signed a Homegrown Player contract, becoming the youngest player in the club's history to sign a professional deal.
His journey with the club began in 2016 as part of United's inaugural academy teams. He competed at the Under-12 level even before stars like Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez debuted the following season.
He was introduced early to high-level soccer, as he worked as a ball boy during the 2018 MLS Cup. The young defender witnessed Atlanta United's 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers to become league champions in 2018.
The match unfolded before a record-breaking crowd of 73,019 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the largest in the event's history. The young player was especially excited, as the game happened just two weeks before his 14th birthday.
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