Chelsea agree deal with Aston Villa to sign midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka

Chelsea have agreed a deal for Aston Villa teenager Carney Chukwuemeka.

The 18-year-old midfielder had been frozen out by manager Steven Gerrard after refusing to sign an extension to his contract which expires next summer.

Gerrard left the midfielder out of the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and he has been training with the under-23s. Gerard was understood to have put a £20million price tag on the player.

“Aston Villa and Chelsea can confirm that the clubs have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka,” said a Villa statement.

“The 18-year-old has been given permission to travel to London to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.”

Chukwuemeka, who turns 19 in October, made his first-team debut in May 2021 and last season made 13 appearances but has made just two Premier League starts.

The Blues have also completed a permanent move for 18-year-old Chicago Fire keeper Gabriel Slonina.

The teenager has signed a six-year deal and will be loaned back to the Major League Soccer club until the end of their season before joining up with his new employers at the start of 2023.

Slonina, the youngest goalkeeper to start an MLS match at the age of 17 years and 81 days, received his first senior call-up for the United States in December when he was named among the substitutes for a 1-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.