Chelsea eye ANOTHER MLS talent after landing Petrovic
Cameron Smith
- 29 Aug 2023 11:45 BST
- 4 min read
New York Red Bulls teenager Jed Akwaboah has been training with Chelsea and Brentford as he eyes a Premier League move, according to The Daily Mail.
Akwaboah is on the books of MLS side New York Red Bulls and posted on Instagram in May that he has made a verbal commitment to the University of Virginia. However, he is now reportedly seeking a move to Europe and is training with Brentford and Chelsea on trial.
Chelsea have utilised the American market twice since Todd Boehly became owner in 2022, with two goalkeepers joining the club from the MLS.
READ MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals
Last summer, Gabriel Slonina was purchased for €9 million from Chicago Fire, while the Blues dipped back into the MLS goalkeeper market to pick up Djordje Petrovic from New England Revolution for €16m in 2023.
Slonina has been loaned to Belgian side KAS Eupen for the 2023-24 season, but Petrovic is expected to stay at Stamford Bridge and compete with Robert Sanchez for the number one berth.
Petrovic, who made his senior Serbia debut back in January 2021, was one of the MLS' outstanding goalkeepers during his short stint in America. Petrovic kept seven clean sheets in his debut year in the USA and matched that tally in 2023.
READ MORE: Deadline Day: Every confirmed transfer around Europe
During his time in the MLS, the Serbian ranked second for saves (184) and his save percentage of 82.7% in the 2022 season is better than Kepa has ever managed in his career when playing over 400 minutes in a campaign.
Chelsea’s business in 2023
Chelsea have spent over €700m since the start of 2023, with €417.1m of that coming this window.
This summer, the Blues have added Moises Caicedo (€116m), Romeo Lavia (€62.1m), Christopher Nkunku (€60m), Axel Disasi (€45m), Nicolas Jackson (€37m), Lesley Ugochukwu (€27m), Robert Sanchez (€23m), Petrovic (€16m), Deivid Washington (€16m) and Angelo (€15m).
The west London club’s summer spending has, however, been largely offset by their huge overhaul, which has seen 21 players leave on permanent deals, generating €253.9m between them.
