Premier League Club Chelsea have signed 19-year-old Atlanta young defender Caleb Wiley as the club brace for a new chapter with Enzo Maresca.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have completed the move for Wiley, having agreed terms with the player and the club for the transfer.
The report adds Wiley will be loaned temporarily to French Ligue 1 side, Strasbourg, for a more polished career before returning to the London outfit.
Atlanta United are set to bag £8.5m for the youngster as part of the deal with the player agreeing to a long-term contract. He will be expected to complete his medical in London as he sets out for a new challenge away from the MLS.
He is now Chelsea’s seventh signing this summer joining new additions to the club like Tosin Aderabioyo, Estevao Willian, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Renato Veiga.
Wiley boasts an impressive appearance stats with Atlanta United since his big break into the club’s first team in 2022.
Who is Caleb Wiley?
Caleb Ryan Wiley, born on December 22, 2004, is a professional football player from the United States. Wiley plays for MLS club, Atlanta United, and is now set for a new chapter with Chelsea in the Premier League. He is a defender and is known for his stamina, pace, and creative play at the back.
Caleb Wiley career
Caleb Wiley began his journey to a professional football career in 2016 at the age of 12. After showing off intriguing footballing skills, he was drafted into Atlanta Academy in his hometown. A six-year spell in the soccer training ground saw the burgeoning footballer hone his skills and grow into a full-blown professional footballer.
He earned his first senior call-up to Atlanta United first team in 2022. Meanwhile, while he was still active in the club’s youth team, he was drafted first into the club’s feather (reserve) team in 2020. A one-season spell with the Atlanta reserve team saw him tally 33 appearances before the promotion to the first team the next year.
With a promising career due to his great composure in defence, he quickly cemented his place in the squad, playing week-in and week-out in the USA elite division. He has recorded 77 league appearances for the team, scoring 6 goals.
Caleb Wiley stats
Since his breakout campaign with Atlanta United, Wiley has been a regular on the team. In all competitions, he has made 83 appearances for the side. At Atlanta United 2, he tallied 33 appearances in all competitions.
Overall, the burgeoning youngster has made 116 professional career appearances since his breakout, scoring 6 goals. On the international scene, he had played for USA U-17s, U-20s, and U-21s before earning his first senior call-up to the national team in 2023 and has been capped twice.
Caleb Wiley Chelsea contract
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Caleb Wiley has agreed to a lengthy seven-year contract with Chelsea till 2031. As part of the deal, he will be loaned to Chelsea’s affiliated outfit, Strasbourg temporarily before returning to the club.
