Chelsea youngster Carney Chukwuemeka rejected a £100,000-per-week contract offer from Aston Villa in order to force a move to Stamford Bridge, according to reports. The 18-year-old penned a six-year deal with the Blues in the summer after Steven Gerrard's side accepted a £20million bid.
Chukwuemeka, who is yet to start for the west Londoners, has featured just three times since arriving in the summer. While the wonderkid midfielder is yet to enjoy a string of appearances for Chelsea, he's looked promising when called upon.
Though, with Jorginho and N'Golo Kante set to leave the club at the end of the season once their contracts expire, the England youth international is set for a starring role under Graham Potter for years to come. Chukwuemeka was one of five teenagers to join Chelsea in the summer - alongside Omari Hutchinson, Zak Sturge, Gabriel Slonina and Cesare Casadei - as Todd Boehly looks to build the foundations of a strong future.
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So, after having reportedly turned down a huge deal with childhood side Villa, Chukwuemeka must have bought into the Blues' vision. According to the Evening Standard, the west Midlands clubs were desperate to hold onto the midfielder and offered him a new contract worth £100,000-per-week (£5.2million-a-year).
Had he accepted, Chukwuemeka would have been one of the highest-paid youngsters in the world. Speaking to Chelsea's in-house media team following his arrival, he explained his decision to join the west Londoners.
"It’s been quite hectic but I couldn’t get Chelsea out of my head the last few days so I’m just happy and relieved that it’s all done," he said. "I’m so excited and just can’t wait to get on the pitch, meet all the players and try to win games and trophies with Chelsea."
Boehly and the club's fellow higher-ups were just as happy. The American billionaire said: "Carney is one of the most exciting young players in Europe so we are really looking forward to seeing him in action at Stamford Bridge. We are delighted to be able to bring him to Chelsea and add such a talented young individual to our squad for the new season and beyond."
Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, 'co-controlling owners', said: "We are building for both the now and the future so signing one of the hottest teenage talents in English football fits with both those aims. Chelsea have shown that young potential can be fulfilled at this club and under our ownership we are determined this will continue. We are looking forward to Carney thriving here."
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