Chelsea FC have confirmed the signing of Swedish starlet Joseph Colley from IF Brommapojkarna.
Joe Edwards, the under-18s Chelsea FC coach, has confirmed the signature of the Swedish defender with whom the club had a deal in the works since December 2013, but allowed him to remain with the Stockholm-based club.
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Edwards said: “Hea s a right-sided, powerful defender, comfortable also playing on the left, who likes to bring the ball out of defence.”
“Hea s also captained Sweden at his age group.”
The 16 year old is expected to link up with Joe Edwards U-18 side in the coming days and is one of 14 new additions to the club’s academy.
The Swedish youngster is tall and versatile, capable of playing as a holding midfielder as well as at right-back or in the heart of the defence.
His former club Brommapojkarna U19s boss Dali Savic was full of praise for the youngter and was quoted saying that his technique is similar to Juventus ace and former Manchester United player Paul Pogba who has been a long term Chelsea FC target.
Savic said: a Joseph is in my opinion best best player in Sweden born since 1999.a
a He is a leader on the pitch and in the locker room and has good technical and tactical skills already despite his young age.a
a He is strong and has excellent timing with his headers. Chelsea are signing a top young player.a
a I think JC is special and has a unique style of playing but if I have to pick one player [to compare him with] I would say Paul Pogba.a
a His athleticism and quick technique with ball is similar to Pogba.a
The youngster is set to line up with the Chelsea FC U18s who have won three FA Youth Cups in the last four year and also UEFA U19 Champions League this season.
Among the 14 new players, Nathaniel Chalobah’s brother Trevoh and Cole Dasilva, who was one of three siblings to arrive from Luton Town in 2012, are also included.
The other youngsters joining the club are Nathan Baxter, Josh Grant, Malakai Hinckson-Mars, Dan Kemp, Jacob Maddox, Luke McCormick, Mason Mount, Richard Nartey, Harvey St Clair, Jared Thompson, Ike Ugbo