Chelsea may be struggling in the Premier League this season, sitting in 12th place with only a few games remaining in the 2022-23 season, but they remain an appealing proposition for both senior and youth players.
The Blues have spent a lot of money under new owner Todd Boehly, but it’s not just the first-team ranks that they want to strengthen; it’s also the development teams.
And, before the transfer window even opens, they have added another English player to their under-21 squad in the form of Norwich City’s Alex Matos.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Matos has signed contracts to become an official Chelsea player, and the Premier League club will sign him for no upfront transfer fee, but there will be add-ons in the deal that could be triggered by certain factors that the Canaries would benefit financially from.
Matos’ contract at Norwich was set to expire this summer, and with no new contract in place, the 18-year-old was free to negotiate with other clubs, which he has done.
Matos, who impressed on trial for Chelsea’s under-21s, will now join the Londoners on a full-time basis.
Matos has yet to break into the senior setup at Carrow Road, but he has been a consistent performer for both the under-18s and under-21s this season.
During his eight under-18 Premier League matches in 2022-23, the teenager has mostly played in midfield, but he has proven to be more versatile for the under-21s, having also played on the wing and at right-back.
His last appearance in a Canaries shirt came in a 4-1 loss to West Ham’s under-18s in March, after which he began his trial with Chelsea.
It’s difficult to predict how well Matos will perform because the jump from Norwich to Chelsea, even at the developmental level, is significant, but they clearly see something in him to bring him on board.
Many Chelsea youngsters, however, get lost in the shuffle, and chances in the first-team are extremely slim, despite the fact that Lewis Hall, at the age of 18, has managed to earn some senior minutes this season.
