Chelsea are already making moves in the upcoming transfer window, though supporters won't get a glimpse until June 2024
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Chelsea are closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window, but supporters will have to wait until June 2024 to get a glimpse of their new star.
After beating Newcastle United on Tuesday night in the League Cup, Chelsea booked their place in the semi-finals of the tournament. Off the pitch, though, the hierarchy have been busy negotiating deals and putting together transfers.
And according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are close to completing their first deal of the January transfer window before it's even opened.
Chelsea beat Newcastle in the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday (Image credit: Getty Images)
Romano revealed that Senegal U17 midfielder Pape Daouda Diong is due to sign for the Blues from AF Darou Salam, after being pictured at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday alongside incoming Chelsea star Kendry Paez.
Still only 17, Diong won't be allowed to sign for Chelsea until his 18th birthday, however, due to FIFA regulations on transfers only allowing players over the age of 18 to move between clubs internationally.
That means the Senegalese midfielder will have to wait until June 2024 until he officially becomes a Chelsea player, where he'll then compete with the likes of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Paez in the first team. Mauricio Pochettino might request that Diong gets more experience at another level elsewhere in Europe, though, before making the step up.
Diong will become the first Chelsea signing of the window (Image credit: Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
A defensive midfielder who loves winning the ball back and passing short, Diong helped Senegal U17s reach the last 16 of the U17 World Cup earlier this year, after finishing above Japan and Poland in the group stages. Senegal lost on penalties to France in the last 16, though.
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He's made four appearances in total for the national team youth side, and will now start preparing for his Chelsea move in seven months time.
Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.
