Dujuan 'Whisper' Richards was convinced to sign for Chelsea due to their first-team pledge for the Jamaican wonderkid as well as a 'better' financial package. That is according to Phoenix All Stars Academy president Craig Butler, who claims Newcastle United made a 'very good offer' following a two-week trial for the exciting striker.
Richards was pictured at St James' Park as Eddie Howe's side drew with West Ham, before spending a fortnight bidding to impress the club's academy bosses. The 17-year-old later admitted he was 'expecting' to sign for the Magpies in an exclusive interview with ChronicleLive.
However, days after earning a senior international call-up for Jamaica, Richards was confirmed to have signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea on Saturday which will become official on his 18th birthday on October 11. Butler has now explained why the Phoenix prospect decided to snub the Magpies in favour of their Premier League rivals.
READ MORE: Chelsea steal wonderkid who 'expected' to be Newcastle's next signing after transfer u-turn
He told the Jamaica Gleaner: “It wasn’t a sudden switch, whenever you manage a player it is important that you look at all available options and choose the best possible offer.
“Newcastle really did a great job and made a big effort to get him and we appreciate everything that they have done. Newcastle presented a very good offer and so did Genk and Ajax. But for us Chelsea presented the best one."
Butler confirms Richards had previously turned down a lucrative offer from the Middle East in order to pursue his dream of securing a switch to the Premier League. The academy president revealed Chelsea's head of recruitment Joe Shields had tracked the striker's progress for two years, and that the first-team pledge proved 'very important' in swinging the deal in favour of the Blues.
Butler added: “Chelsea were not just better from a financial perspective but also in terms of his football pathway and the plan for the player. He will be in the first team and that is very important to me.
"If he is to go out on loan, I will be integral in the decision as to where he goes. But Chelsea are looking to put him in their first team and they have provided a plan, and that plan really fits ‘Whisper’ going forward."
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