Yesterday afternoon, Chelsea FC reportedly struck a deal with Leicester City for midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall according to Fabrizio Romano. In his “here we go!” fashion, Fabrizio reported that Chelsea was signing Dewsbury-Hall for thirty million pounds.
There were reports earlier in the week that Chelsea had made contact with Dewsbury-Hall concerning a move to West London, but those were squashed when it was reported by Romano that Brighton and Hove Albion had agreed to a swap deal with Leicester for Dewsbury-Hall.
Dewsbury-Hall decided to reject Brighton in hopes that Chelsea would strike a deal with his former club for an anticipated move to Stamford Bridge. Kiernan grew up a Chelsea fan according to his own personal Twitter, so this is a big move for the lad, and for the price in this market, it’s undoubtedly a steal.
Chelsea did in fact sell Michael Golding to Leicester for £4 million in a “separate deal” but it is more likely that those two deals were basically one swap deal for the two sides.
How does Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fit with Chelsea?
It’s no secret at this point that last season with Leicester City Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was brilliant in partnership with new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. This gets Chelsea someone who is familiar with Maresca’s system and can help the squad learn and implement his ideas, but also someone they have been following for a long time.
This was not a signing that was demanded by Maresca or anything like that. Instead, it was one where the sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, liked the player and then asked Enzo Maresca who then gave his recommendations as well. Even if Maresca thought the player was unnecessary or not needed the club would probably still do this. Chelsea has done this before with Enzo Fernandez, who Graham Potter thought did not fit the club particularly well and Nicolas Jackson when Mauricio Pochettino wanted a “Premier League proven” striker.
Dewsbury-Hall fits within the team very well and provides some depth in the midfield that puts Chelsea close to the top of the list in the Premier League of midfield depth. With Conor Gallagher out the door this summer potentially, this is a good quality signing of a veteran type player who can help teach the system of the new manager and bring in some quality straight away.
Another good thing with Dewsbury-Hall is he can play multiple positions in Maresca’s system including the inverted left back position which he did at times for Leicester last season, which is crucial considering besides Marc Cucurella Chelsea doesn’t have many serious left back options for Maresca’s system.
Here is what Chelsea are getting in Dewsbury-Hall: