Chelsea have officially finalized the acquisition of Dujuan Richards, an 18-year-old striker hailing from Phoenix Academy in Jamaica.
Having celebrated his 18th birthday in November, Richards has successfully completed his transfer to Chelsea.
- Chelsea staff feel academy star should be ahead of £32m signing
- Ten Hag U-turns on “perfect” Man Utd star involved in training bust-up
Interestingly, he had previously trained with Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad during their pre-season tour of the USA last year.
Richards, a member of the Phoenix Academy since the age of 11, had attracted considerable interest from Newcastle.
Despite undergoing a trial and attending a game at St James’ Park, Chelsea managed to secure his signature, outpacing their Premier League rivals in the process.
Making his senior international debut for Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago shortly after signing for Chelsea in March of the previous year, Richards has garnered 10 caps and even scored a goal against the same opponent during the 2023 Gold Cup campaign in June.
Now part of Chelsea’s academy, the young striker aims to swiftly showcase his potential for first-team opportunities, especially in a position that has presented challenges for Pochettino.
Chelsea, known for fielding one of the league’s youngest teams with an average age of 23.7 at the start of the season under Pochettino, currently holds the 8th position in the league.
The team has faced difficulties with eight losses in the season so far, including a recent 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the League Cup semi-final midweek. However, they rebounded with a 1-0 victory over Fulham earlier today.
