Gabriel Slonina has quickly risen into a first team regular with the Chicago Fire over the past two MLS season and his immediate impact has earned him a transfer this January to one of Europe’s top clubs.
Slonina has officially joined English Premier League side Chelsea on a permanent transfer from the Fire, the clubs announced Tuesday. The 18-year-old will remain with the Fire for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season, allowing him to continue playing regularly in MLS.
Slonina became the Fire’s youngest first team signing as a 14-year-old in 2019 and also was the youngest goalkeeper to start an MLS match at 17-years-old in August 2021. He started in 11 matches in 2021 for the Fire, posting four clean sheets and making 46 saves.
Slonina has remained the No. 1 goalkeeper in Chicago this season, totaling 23 starts in 28 appearances, with 10 clean sheets and 48 saves to his name so far.
“I joined this Club [Fire] with ambitions of playing at the highest level and it’s been a dream come true to wear the Chicago Fire jersey,” said Slonina. “This Club has become my second home, my second family, and there are so many people that have played a big role in helping me get to where I am today. I’m so thankful for all the support that I’ve received from my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone associated with the Club. It’s been an incredible honor to work alongside each one of you.”
The Illinois native has represented U.S. Soccer at several youth national team levels before earning a pair of senior call-ups in December 2021 and January 2022 respectively. Despite interest from the Polish national team in May, Slonina rejected a senior call-up Czeslaw Michniewicz and committed his future to the USMNT.
Chelsea currently has Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Marcus Bettinelli in its goalkeeper ranks under manager Thomas Tuchel. Slonina will join fellow USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic in London next January.
“Slonina will join fellow USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic in London next January.”
Work has just begun…. he may well join Miazga as one more in the legion of loaned out Chelsea signings. No matter- all the best of made “luck” to Gaga in his development- high hopes that his talent and hard work intersect with opportunity in a long fruitful career!
That’s very exciting but is he going to get playing time for Chelsea? Or are they going to loan him out somewhere?
No he will be loaned. He’ll probably train with them Jan. – May coming off the MLS season and then go on loan for ‘23-24 season at least.
January to the next transfer window should give Chelsea a good idea what they have.
Mendy and Kepa are both under contract until 2025 according to Transfermkt so unless Kepa finally gets tired of sitting it will be very hard to even get a backup spot. That being said the price will be hard to recoup for a keeper you aren’t going to use.
There are reports of Kepa heading out on loan to Napoli
Latest rumor is loan for Kepa with no option to buy for Napoli . Honestly at his age better for Gaga to go play somewhere in 23/24 than play Leagues Cup and watch Mendy. It will be interesting if Chelsea continues its loan army approach under Boehly.