It was very refreshing to hear of a breaking transfer news story from Chelsea themselves. A rarity in today's age of 24/7 reporting and the thirst for constant updates, it is not a major surprise when a club finally announces a signing anymore.
But on Tuesday evening, Chelsea bucked the trend when they tweeted they had agreed a fee with Aston Villa for the transfer of 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka, believed to be close to £20m on a six-year-deal.
Chukwuemeka has been one of the rising stars of English football in recent years, progressing through the ranks at both club and International level. This led to his breakout tournament at this summer's European Championships, where he scored a dramatic goal in extra-time against Isreal, helping his nation to seal the trophy in the final.
READ MORE: Full list of every confirmed Chelsea 2022/23 summer transfer in and out after Gabriel Slonina
The general positivity and excitement that met this news reflected how highly many people view the midfielder and his potential. This deal is ironic given it feels like one Chelsea fans have become accustomed to hating, losing an academy talent to someone else as Villa did here when the player turned down a contract that would have made him the highest paid teen in English football.
After talks with Thomas Tuchel and en route to Cobham, avoiding any late hiccups, Chukwuemeka will become the fourth major men's signing after Gabriel Slonina was confirmed on Tuesday evening from Chicago Fire.
Todd Boehly has received criticism already for Chelsea's approach to major targets this summer, be that the failure to land certain ones or the perception the number of names linked has felt a little bit chaotic, although there is clarity this summer than any pursuit has the influence and blessing of Tuchel.
Chukwuemeka is arguably the most interesting deal Boehly will do in this window, partly because it follows a growing trend of the club snapping up exciting young talent from Premier League rivals. Omari Hutchinson feels most comparable here, signed after Arsenal failed to negotiate a deal with a player who ripped it up against the Blues at the youth level last season, now a Blue and will likely be sent instantly on loan to Reading to gain consistent senior minutes.
Left-back Zak Sturge from Brighton and goalkeeper Eddie Beach from Southampton were other notable gets, with a belief the recruitment drive under the vision of Neil Bath has not concluded.
Chukwuemeka is further along in his development and could instantly join the first team with Tuchel, and that would be a refreshing change. If you think about some of Chelsea's major European rivals who Boehly would maybe want to emulate, the way in which Bayern Munich have integrated young talent bought from England has proved fruitful.
Just look at Jamal Musiala, a former Cobham scholar, now developing into one of Europe's finest. At Borussia Dortmund is where this trend is greater felt: Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham both come to mind from an English perspective. Dortmund's known policy might be to develop and sell these players on, but Bayern have equally shown how you do it as a club that wants to remain dominant.
Chukwuemeka joining the first-team squad would be an exciting change given the raw talent many people feel can quickly blossom into something more, especially when you combine that with the likes of Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher. Chelsea could have the long-term future of England's midfield already at Stamford Bridge.
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