There are very few big-money transfers that truly catch people off guard. Yet Chelsea achieved that rare feat during the summer transfer window. It was on August 2 – at 5.30pm to be exact – that the Blues revealed to the world they had agreed a deal for one of English football's brightest young players.
It read: "Aston Villa and Chelsea can confirm that the clubs have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Carney Chukwuemeka. The 18-year-old has been given permission to travel to London to discuss both personal terms and undergo a medical."
Cue excitement among supporters – and plenty of raised eyebrows among journalists and pundits. All that was left to fill in were the details, which didn't take too long to emerge. The transfer Chelsea had agreed was worth £20million and Chukwuemeka was handed a six-year contract that made him one of the best teenagers in English football.
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Less than 24 hours later, the deal was all wrapped up. "To hear myself say I play for Chelsea Football Club means the world to me," the 18-year-old said in his first interview. "I've been a fan of Chelsea since I was young. Playing football as a young kid was more about just loving and enjoying kicking a ball around, but every young footballer dreams of playing for a big club, representing the club that they've supported
"To put the badge on for the first time today is honestly an amazing feeling. I feel like I just want to bring myself, try and be unique and be a player for Chelsea that has never been seen before at this football club."
From those words alone, it was clear Chukwuemeka didn't lack self-belief. Given he arrived with 15 Premier League appearances under his belt and having played a key role in helping England win the Under-19 European Championships in the summer, that was understandable.
There would be no loan for Chukwuemeka. Instead, he would train and feature for the first team and make the odd outing for the Development Squad when required to maintain match fitness. Or at least that was the plan pitched to the young midfielder to entice him to Stamford Bridge.
Yet eight games into the campaign – seven of which were overseen by the now-departed Thomas Tuchel – Chukwuemeka has yet to make his Chelsea debut. Given the midfield options available, few would be surprised by that fact. Yet it's important to add context.
N'Golo Kante has been ruled out since the second game of the campaign due to injury. Mateo Kovacic has struggled with a knee issue. Conor Gallagher has missed a game with suspension. And Ruben Loftus-Cheek was forced off in the defeat to Southampton with a hamstring injury.
Chukwuemeka was on the bench for that disappointing Tuesday night at St Mary's. Yet rather damningly, he was never remotely considered by Tuchel as a genuine option to change the game. The German coach said after the 3-1 defeat: "A hamstring injury [to Loftus-Cheek], next midfielder out. No one left."
Patience has been vital for Chukwuemeka in his early weeks as a Chelsea player. There have been a couple of outings for the Development Squad but he didn't stand out in either. What the youngster required was an opportunity to make his mark in the senior set-up.
That came in a fashion on Saturday. With Chelsea not in Premier League action after their match against Liverpool was postponed, a friendly against Brighton – who also had a free weekend – was hastily arranged at the Amex Stadium. It was a chance for new coach Graham Potter to cast his eye over the players who didn't feature in his first match in charge.
Chelsea came away from the south coast with a 2-1 victory. Chukwuemeka scored both goals and laid down a marker in his bid to play first-team football after the international break. And given the fixture list the Blues face in October, the teenager is likely to get his opportunity.
Between October 1st and October 29th, Chelsea are scheduled to play nine matches. It is a run that will push the first-team squad to its limits; everyone is going to be required if Potter's side are to push on in the Premier League and reassert themselves in their Champions League group.
Chukwuemeka will almost certainly be handed his chance in that period. And Potter will hope the midfielder can make a similar impact to that he made against Brighton. Only this time, with the Chelsea supporters and wider football world all watching on.
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