Chelsea is on the brink of signing teenage forward Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa in a deal valued at approximately £19 million.
Despite facing challenges related to Profit and Sustainability Rules, Chelsea continues to invest heavily in young talent.
This follows recent signings such as Deivid Washington, Angelo, Diego Moreira, and Cesare Casadei, with future additions like Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian expected to join.
The move for Kellyman mirrors Chelsea’s strategy from 2022 when they acquired Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa for £20 million.
According to The Athletic, negotiations are in the final stages, with only minor details and personal terms left to finalize before the 18-year-old undergoes his medical examination.
Kellyman, capable of playing across the front line but primarily as a center-forward, has made just six senior appearances for Villa since joining their academy from Derby County in 2022.
These appearances include a mix of Premier League, Europa Conference League, and League Cup matches, totaling 63 minutes of play. Notably, he started and played the full 90 minutes in the second leg of a Conference League qualifier against Hibernian, assisting Leon Bailey in a 3-0 victory.
Last season, Kellyman scored eight goals in 14 appearances for Villa’s U21 side and secured a long-term contract with Aston Villa in October.
This transfer comes shortly after Villa agreed to a £35 million deal to sign Dutch defender Ian Maatsen from Chelsea.
The acquisition of Kellyman represents Chelsea’s continued commitment to nurturing young talent, despite recent financial scrutiny. As the deal nears completion, Chelsea fans and management alike will be eager to see how the promising forward develops at Stamford Bridge.
