Chelsea has officially signed United States international Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United, bolstering their defensive lineup with the highly-regarded 19-year-old left-back. Wiley joins the Premier League club on a six-year contract, with the transfer fee reported to be $11 million (approximately £8.5 million).
Wiley, who developed through Atlanta United’s academy, made a significant impact in Major League Soccer (MLS) with 77 appearances, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. His impressive performances earned him a senior debut for the USMNT in October 2023 against Mexico. He is also part of the under-23 squad set to compete at the Paris Olympics.
“Caleb epitomizes the pathway that we envisioned when we started this club,” said Atlanta vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra. “Born and raised in Atlanta, he joined our Academy at 11 years old and went on to earn every step in his path up to signing as a homegrown. We wish Caleb the best in this next challenge of his career and look forward to following his journey.”
Wiley is Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window, joining Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Renato Veiga. Like Guiu and Veiga, Wiley’s addition aligns with Chelsea’s strategy of securing young talent on long-term contracts to build a robust future squad.
As part of his development, Wiley is expected to join Strasbourg, the Ligue 1 club also owned by Chelsea’s parent company Blueco, on loan for the upcoming season. This move aims to provide him with valuable playing time and experience in European football.
Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, expressed his excitement about Wiley’s potential, stating, “Caleb is a fantastic young player with great promise. His time at Strasbourg will be crucial for his development, and we look forward to his contributions to Chelsea in the future.”
The signing of Caleb Wiley shows Chelsea’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and reinforcing their squad for long-term success.
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