Chelsea struck a deal worth £ 20 million for Carney Chukwuemeka after the 18-year-old rejected Villa’s proposal for a new deal at Villa Park.
Aston Villa’s 2020/21 Academy Player of the Season, Carney Chukwuemeka, who was capped eleven times by his senior team last season, is now on his way to join Chelsea after the London side struck a deal to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Several Premier League sides were rumored to be interested in the services of the teenager, including top-flight teams in Italy and Germany.
AC Milan and Barcelona were reportedly not willing to negotiate Aston Villa’s £20M price tag. Both teams expected Chukwuemeka to remain available until the January window when he could be approached over a free transfer.
Carney will undergo medical in London over the next 24 hours before signing a long-term contract. The blues are believed to be paying £15m at once, coupled with a further £5m in add-ons and installment payments.
Co-signed by Villa the statement released by Chelsea read: “Aston Villa and Chelsea can confirm that the clubs have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka.
“The 18-year-old has been given permission to travel to London to discuss both personal terms and undergo a medical.”
Shortly after his Premier League debut at a sold out Villa Park back in September 2021, former Villa and now Norwich manager Dean Smith said via The Express and Star: “It was a first start in the Premier League for Carney who we have really high hopes for and he certainly didn’t let anyone down.
“He is a really calm and collected lad who could handle the occasion of playing in front of a full house at Villa Park.”
Carney Chibueze Chukwuemeka, who turns 19 later this year in October, captained the England Under-19s team to European Championship glory earlier this summer. He netted three goals in the tournament including one in the final.
He now becomes another promising talent to sign for Chelsea after Arsenal’s Omari Hutchinson switched from the red half of London to Stamford bridge just a few weeks ago in another under the radar, transfer.
Chelsea also signed young goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from Chicago Fire and the deal was completed on the 2nd of August, 2022.
Who is Carney Chukwuemeka?
Aston Villa’s midfielder Carney Chibueze Chukwuemeka was born on October 20, 2003, and is a professional football player. His parents are from Nigeria, and he represents England in youth international competitions, most recently serving as captain of the England U19 team.
Chukwuemeka is Igbo in origin. He was reared in Northampton, England, after being born to Nigerian parents in Austria. Caleb, his elder brother, is an Aston Villa player as well.
He previously attended the Northampton School for Boys.
How will Chukwuemeka fit into Chelsea?
The highly regarded midfielder was not included in Steven Gerrard’s squad during preseason because negotiations for a contract extension between the player and the club had come to a standstill.
Although it is still a top priority for the Blues to bolster their defense before the start of the new campaign, a deal for Chukwuemeka is expected to be finalized this week as Chelsea looks toward the future.
With N’Golo Kante and Jorginho nearing the final year of their contracts at Stamford Bridge, Thomas Tuchel’s signing of the 18-year-old shows that he is aware of Chelsea’s aging midfield dilemma.
After meeting with Tuchel in London last week, who persuaded the teenager to join the Blues, Chukwuemeka might see it as an opportunity to play the highest level of club football.
