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.
