Chelsea are actively working to build a competitive squad for the 2024/25 season after having reportedly struck an agreement with Enzo Maresca to be their next manager. Amid all this, they are now closing in on making Tosin Adarabioyo their first summer signing.
Chelsea Pushing To Make Tosin Adarabioyo First Signing Of Enzo Maresca Era
Which Club Is Adarabioyo Rejecting For Chelsea?
Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Blues are close to signing the 26-year-old defender. He adds that “negotiations are at final stages,” with only small details left.
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The journalist also adds that Newcastle United have been working on a deal to sign Adarabioyo for many weeks but that Chelsea have become the clear favourite to sign the centre-back as a free agent. The English defender has decided to leave Fulham once his contract expires at the end of June and Romano claims that Chelsea’s officials are currently cautious about this deal until it is fully sealed. It’s also added that Adarabioyo is expected to become the first signing of the Enzo Maresca era if everything goes according to plans.
How Can Adarabioyo Fit In At Chelsea?
The 26-year-old defender has an ample amount of experience to thrive in the Premier League with Chelsea, having impressed with Fulham since joining them in 2020. The Englishman is a Manchester City youth academy product and was part of their Carabao Cup-winning team in the 2016/17 season too.
Adarabioyo is a quick, composed defender and helped the Cottagers keep six clean sheets in 20 appearances in the 2023/24 campaign. Not only that, but he also averaged four clearances per game and won nearly three aerial duels every 90 minutes in the Premier League. The Englishman is also excellent with the ball in his feet, having averaged 60 passes per game last season and managed 72 accurate long balls in his 20 appearances.
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The 26-year-old can help Chelsea play the ball out from the back with ease and also add more physicality to their backline. He was hailed as a “special“ player by Fulham boss Marco Silva last season, as it appears that Chelsea are targeting him as the replacement for Thiago Silva after the Brazilian confirmed that he would be leaving once his contract expires at the end of June.
