Chelsea FC have made another move to promoted Leicester City: After coach Enzo Maresca, home-grown Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is also joining the club – after a strong season
Whether Chelsea FC will dominate another transfer window this summer is not yet clear. On Tuesday, however, the Blues announced their second new signing: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall joins from Premier League promoted Leicester City, following his former coach Enzo Maresca to Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old midfielder will receive a five-year contract until 2029 (with the option of a further season) and is no bargain: The transfer fee was recently rumored to be around 35 million euros.
Dewsbury-Hall was one of the key players in Leicester’s promotion-winning season, which saw them finish top of the Championship. In 44 league appearances, the left-footer scored twelve goals and provided 14 assists and was directly involved in 26 of his team’s 89 goals. It remains to be seen whether he can also play a leading role at Chelsea under Maresca. There is huge competition in central midfield, even if European Championship player Conor Gallagher could still leave the club this summer
Replacement helps Leicester
For Chelsea, Dewsbury-Hall is the second external summer signing after 18-year-old attacker Omari Kellyman, who arrived from Aston Villa for an astonishing €22 million. The Blues generated important income before the balance sheet deadline of June 30 by selling Ian Maatsen (Dortmund, now Aston Villa), Lewis Hall (on loan to Newcastle) and Omari Hutchinson (on loan to Ipswich Town).
Dewsbury-Hall’s transfer is also financially worthwhile for Leicester, who have installed Steve Cooper as Maresca’s successor: The Foxes, who are threatened with a points deduction at the start of the season due to alleged breaches of financial regulations in England, can book the entire transfer fee as a profit because Dewsbury-Hall is a homegrown player.
