The signing of teenage striker Dujuan Richards by Chelsea is now officially confirmed. The Jamaican international, previously with the Phoenix Allstars Football Academy in Kingston, finalized a pre-contract deal with Chelsea in March, and the transfer was officially announced over the summer. Having turned 18 in November, Richards has now officially joined Chelsea, expressing excitement about realizing his dream of signing a professional contract with the club. The young striker, who had trained with Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad during their pre-season tour of the USA last year, shared his enthusiasm for the new chapter.
Richards, a product of the Phoenix Academy since the age of 11, had attracted interest from Newcastle but ultimately chose Chelsea over their Premier League rivals. Chelsea’s director of recruitment and talent, Joe Shields, played a crucial role in securing the deal. Despite facing trials and interest from various clubs, including Manchester City, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Sheffield United, Richards is now set to join the Chelsea academy.
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The teenage talent had a diverse journey, spending time at Brooke House College in Leicestershire, undergoing a trial with Real Sociedad in Spain in 2022, and drawing attention from clubs like Ajax and Genk. Richards made his senior international debut for Jamaica shortly after signing for Chelsea in March, earning 10 caps since then, including scoring a goal in the 2023 Gold Cup campaign. Now, Richards aims to impress in the Chelsea academy and hopes to secure first-team opportunities, addressing a position challenge under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
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