Posted January 10, 201213 yr http://allafrica.com/stories/201201100787.html English Premier League club Chelsea have signed promising Nigeria youth international defender Kenneth Omeruo. Omeruo signed with Chelsea technical director, Michael Emenalo two days ago in Holland. "It's a very huge step in my career and I will grab it with both hands," Omeruo said according to agency reports. "I will continue to work hard until I fulfil my dream to play for a massive club like Chelsea." Omeruo, who featured at last year's FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia, will in the first instance play in the Dutch league on loan to ADO Den Haag. This was after an arrangement to farm him out on loan to another Dutch club Vitesse fell through. "He will be with the youthful Den Haag team for possibly a year or so to gain playing time and hopefully return to England to fight for a shirt in Chelsea main team," Omeruo's FIFA-licensed agent, Obinna Emelogu told MTNFootball.com "It's a big challenge as a lot is expected of the player. I believe in him and I believe after a season with Den Haag, he will be ready for Chelsea." The 18-year-old central defender was on the books of top Belgian club Standard Liege before his handlers opted to take up the chance offered by Chelsea. He was the mainstay of the Golden Eaglets back four as Nigeria reached the final of the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria. Midfielder John Mikel Obi is the other Nigerian with a contract at Chelsea.
January 10, 201213 yr With the way things are at Chelsea i would be surprised if he did ever make it into the first team. If players like Josh and Ryan cant get any game time then what hope do any others?
January 10, 201213 yr Too many promising young center backs in our books and afraid we will mess up with each one of the talents !
January 10, 201213 yr Author Who was that African guy we signed from Celtic? Has he featured for the reserves at all??
January 10, 201213 yr It'll be the Rajković situation all over again... Edited January 10, 201213 yr by TheFunkeyGibbon
January 10, 201213 yr I read somewhere we have a buy back clause on Rajkovic. It is time we trust our academy players.
January 10, 201213 yr Just what we need...another Central Defender....just in case we don't sign Cahill..
January 10, 201213 yr I read somewhere we have a buy back clause on Rajkovic. It is time we trust our academy players. I get the feeling Rajkovic will be back here with us, even after we buy Cahill. He is now getting regular games for Serbia and Vidic is done playing for the NT. I think by the summer he might have the required number of caps.
January 10, 201213 yr Yep but this is about speculating on promising talent, budget, development and investment in the hope that some come through big - fingers in pies...
January 10, 201213 yr Since we share the same first name I love him already Your first name isn't "The"??? Kenneth is a fine old Scottish name!
January 10, 201213 yr Your first name isn't "The"??? Kenneth is a fine old Scottish name! Maybe I was born in the wrong country? I should perhaps grow a red beard, wear a kilt, eat haggis and speak a language nobody understands
January 10, 201213 yr Interesting that emelano says that we plan on more deals with the Dutch club. This kind of reminds me of the Alex deal. I just hope this doesn't come at the expense of Chalobah. Islam Fruz is the youngster from Celtic and he has been talked about by AVB while up in Scotland. Said that he is a very technical player and that he isn't first team material yet but may be making training appearances soon with the first team. Rajkovic I believe we do have a buy back clause on him, and what I have heard we would be right to put it into effect
January 10, 201213 yr Interesting that emelano says that we plan on more deals with the Dutch club. This kind of reminds me of the Alex deal. I just hope this doesn't come at the expense of Chalobah. i was under the impression chalobah is playing as a midfielder
January 10, 201213 yr I admit I jave only ever seen him in defense, but I checked and it turns oUt he can play both. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/TheReservesProfiles/0,,10268~900396,00.html
January 10, 201213 yr I get the feeling Rajkovic will be back here with us, even after we buy Cahill. He is now getting regular games for Serbia and Vidic is done playing for the NT. I think by the summer he might have the required number of caps. Hope so. He looked good, from the little I saw of him.
January 10, 201213 yr Yep but this is about speculating on promising talent, budget, development and investment in the hope that some come through big - fingers in pies... Yes, a thousand times yes. It's about developing young talent and not buying more expensive, more experienced players. Frank Arnesen failed. But the policy, which I'm convinced begins with Roman, goes foward as it should. It's immensely difficult to project the future succes of most very young players, in any sport. There will be a lot of misses. As Fast Eddie says, it's all about volume (the big kind, not the loud kind.)
January 12, 201213 yr We do indeed have a buy back clause on Rajkovic in the hope that one day he will be allowed a work permit to play for us. Currently the authorities won't let him have one and this is the only reason he isn't already with us.
January 12, 201213 yr Plus we have young Tomas Kalas on loan at Vitesse and he is very solid at the back.
