Chelsea seal sixth summer exit as youngster moves to Premier League rival

Chelsea youngster Michael Golding has joined Leicester in a permanent deal worth £5million.

The 18-year-old made his first-team debut as a late substitute in the 4-0 win over Preston in the FA Cup in January and was named on the bench in the 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough later that month. A talented midfielder, Golding started the campaign with the Under 18s before ending it as a regular in the Under 23s set-up.

But now, Golding has left the Blues, securing a move to newly-promoted Leicester after winning the Championship title last season. He has signed a four-year deal at the King Power Stadium, with the Foxes set to pay in the region of £5m for his services. There is no buyback clause inserted into his contract.

It comes as a separate transaction from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s £30million move to Chelsea. The Shepshed-born midfielder, 25, has penned a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Dewsbury-Hall becomes their fifth summer recruit after hitting 12 goals and 15 assists in 49 matches last season.

As for Golding, he is now set to kickstart a new chapter of his career in the East Midlands as he tries to force his way into Steve Cooper’s plans ahead of the 2024/25 season. The Foxes romped to the Championship title last term and appointed Cooper as their new boss after losing Enzo Maresca to the Blues.

Golding is the sixth player to leave Chelsea this summer. He follows Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva, Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson and Lewis Hall out of the exit door. More are set to join him leaving the Blues, however, with Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah among those linked with a move away.

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Speaking to Foxes Hub, Golding said: “I’m really looking forward to making leaps and bounds in my career here at Leicester and working hard to help the team as much as I can.

“Obviously the history of the Club speaks for itself; there are great players here and I’m looking to soak up as much information as I can from the senior players, to learn from the staff and hopefully have a great season.”