Under Todd Boehly’s ownership, Chelsea continues its substantial spending spree, as the club is reportedly on the verge of paying a world record amount for 14-year-old Brighton and Hove Albion wonderkid, Shumaira Mheuka.
Since American billionaire Todd Boehly acquired Chelsea in 2022, the club has emerged as the Premier League’s most aggressive spender.
Despite Boehly investing a staggering 1.1 billion euros in acquisitions, Chelsea finished a disappointing 12th in the previous Premier League season, indicating a significant decline in on-field performance.
Despite notable signings like Moises Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk arriving for substantial fees and making limited impact, Chelsea remains undeterred in its pursuit of new talent.
However, this time, Chelsea is not setting the price.
Football Insider reports that Chelsea is set to pay an unprecedented £4.25 million for Shumaira Mheuka, a 16-year-old talent from Brighton who joined the club at the age of 14.
According to sources, Chelsea has been mandated to provide Brighton with this record-breaking sum, comprising an initial £1 million with additional add-ons of £4.25 million contingent upon performance conditions being met.
The transfer fee for Mheuka involves an upfront payment of £1 million, with an additional £4.25 million potential if specific performance milestones are achieved.
The entirety of this amount would be payable to Brighton & Hove Albion if Mheuka completes 100 games for Chelsea.
The prospect of Mheuka achieving this milestone, coupled with earning an England cap, doesn’t seem implausible given the excitement surrounding the young player.
Born in Zimbabwe and raised in England, Mheuka joined Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of nine, navigating through their system before making his under-18 debut.
He subsequently signed with Chelsea at the age of fourteen.
This potential transfer fee for Mheuka exceeds the current British record of £2 million, which Liverpool paid to MK Dons for Sheyi Ojo when he was 14.
Chelsea, with its reported payment for Mheuka, is poised to double this existing record, showcasing the club’s commitment to securing promising talent for the future.