By Sam Stone

2nd Aug, 2022 | 10:27pm

Chelsea sign goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina from MLS side Chicago Fire

Chelsea have completed the signing of 18-year-old American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina on a six-year contract from Chicago Fire.

The young keeper will be loaned back to the MLS side for the remainder of their season before moving to West London at the start of 2023.

Slonina agreed to his first professional contract with the MLS side when he was just 14 and made his league debut at the age of 17.

Smart move

This looks like a smart move by Chelsea with the 18-year-old a low-risk move for the London club.

Chelsea have been adding immense talent to their youth section at present with a number of highly rated youngsters coming through the door at Stamford Bridge this summer.

Sending Slonina back to the MLS looks like a good decision by the club with the youngster needing to continue to play regular matches whilst at a crucial stage of his development.

When he does return to Stamford Bridge at the start of the year another move away would not be out of the question with Édouard Mendy a stalwart in the Chelsea net at present.

However, if Slonina can go and pick up regular game time in the Championship in the second half of this season, then there is a good chance he will be a long-term option for Chelsea in their first-team plans.

This looks like yet another smart piece of long-term business for the London club, in what is becoming an impressive summer of recruitment.

In other Chelsea news, Callum Hudson-Odoi is likely to leave this summer according to this journalist