USMNT star Christian Pulisic has anotherreason to be happy about at Chelsea FC. Though many players have turned down the Blues this summer, another American will make his way to the Stamford Bridge after reaching an agreement in this transfer window.
On Tuesday, the Premier League club announced the signing ofGabriel Slonina from MLS outfit Chicago Fire. The 18-year-old goalkeepersigned a six-year contract with the Blues but will stay on loan in Chicagofor the remainder of the 2022 season.
Slonina’s career has been on the rise very quickly. His Chelsea transfer comes nearly a year after he made his professional debut, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to start an MLS game at only 17 years and 81 days.
Christian Pulisic to be joined by Gabriel Slonina at Chelsea
The teenager has been one of the few bright spots for the Fire in a rather troubling season, in which they stand 8th in the East with 27 points. By 2022, the 18-year-old hadalready established himself in the starting lineup after keeping four clean sheets in 11 games last year.
Having played every single minute of this season so far, Slonina shows off 10 shutouts in 23 appearances. His breakthrough had previously caught the eye of other European giants, with Real Madrid among many teams mentioned as possible suitors.
Slonina, who was part of the youth national team program for most of his career,received his firstcall-up to the United States Men’s National Soccer Teamin December 2021, sitting on the bench for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. His move to the Premier League suggests the USA will have a dependable goalkeeper in the years to come.