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July 9, 2024

Sources: Chelsea agree $11 million deal for Atlanta’s Caleb Wiley – Major League Soccer

According to sources, Chelsea has verbally agreed with Atlanta United to sign U.S. international left-back Caleb Wiley for $11 million (around £8.5 million). This significant signing is expected to revolutionize Chelsea’s defense, injecting new strength and agility and promising an exhilarating future for the team’s gameplay dynamics.

Atlanta keeps a sell-on percentage as part of the agreement. Wiley will sign a seven-year contract and be loaned to Strasbourg. David Ornstein of The Athletic first made the agreement public.

Wiley, 19, is still eligible to compete after being added to the U.S. Olympic roster on Monday. He has two caps with the senior national team.

In his age-17 season, 2022, the attacking left-back made 84 appearances for Atlanta’s first team and established himself as a first-choice starter. In Ligue 1, Strasbourg placed 13th the previous season.

Atlanta moved Giorgos Giakoumakis to Cruz Azul ($10 million) and Thiago Almada to Botafogo ($21 million upfront with an additional $9 million add-ons) this summer. A minimum of $42 million in guaranteed transfer revenue in a single window, with an extra $11 million coming in for Wiley.

Atlanta’s decision to reinvest the transfer revenue in signing a new forward and attacking midfielder is not just a move, it’s a strategy. These planned expenditures are anticipated to not just strengthen the team’s lineup but also boost their performance in the approaching season, instilling a strong sense of confidence in the club’s future prospects. The club also needs a new head coach.

Sources: Houston Dynamo Closing in on Young Winger Deal

Sources reveal that the Houston Dynamo is nearing the completion of a deal to acquire 22-year-old winger Lawrence Ennali from Polish club Górnik Zabrze. The MLS side is expected to pay around $3 million for Ennali, who will join the team as part of the U-22 Initiative, a program to encourage MLS teams to invest in promising young international talent.

Ennali, a German-born attacker, is renowned for his pace and dynamism on the wing. These attributes have made him a top target for Houston. His effectiveness in the final third, demonstrated by scoring five goals and providing two assists last season in the Polish Ekstraklasa, is a testament to his potential impact on Houston’s offensive capabilities. His experience also includes stints in Germany’s second and third divisions, where he further honed his skills and versatility as an attacking player.

The addition of Lawrence Ennali is poised to be a game-changer for Houston’s offensive capabilities. His speed and creativity are expected to seamlessly integrate with the team’s current forward lineup, providing head coach Ben Olsen with additional tactical options and significantly enhancing the team’s chances for success in the MLS.

Dynamo Address Key Issue

Following their impressive run to the Western Conference Final last season, the Houston Dynamo have struggled to find their stride in the 2024 campaign. Now occupying the eighth spot in the Western Conference, the team’s main issue has been a need for more goals.

In their first 21 MLS matches this season, Houston has scored just 29 goals, with only Austin FC registering fewer goals in the West (25). The Dynamo has made significant moves in the transfer market to address this pressing need. The club-record signing of Ezequiel Ponce, who scored 16 goals in 38 appearances for AEK Athens last season, and the acquisition of Lawrence Ennali, who contributed 10 goals (8G, 2A) in 30 appearances for Górnik Zabrze, aim to rejuvenate their attack. With these additions, Pan Onstad’s squad hopes to boost their offensive output and make a strong push up the table in the second half of the season.

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