Romano confirms Chelsea’s €40.6m striker deal – bigger than Jackson and a huge gamble
Fabrizio Romano has given his famous “here we go” to Chelsea’s transfer for Samu Omorodion, which had been gathering pace in the last couple of weeks.
It concludes a long search for a backup striker to assist Nicolas Jackson which began almost when the striker was signed from Villareal a year ago
Omorodion’s price will be €40.6m according to Romano, beating the €35m paid for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and making this Chelsea’s most expensive signing of the summer. He came in for €37m, and has been one of the better buys from last summer, despite some dodgy finishing.
Omorodion was a real dark horse at the start of the summer, as interest in Jhon Duran dominated. It started to look unlikely when Atletico sold Alvaro Morata, but Diego Simeone’s side have hit back with a series of big signings, including Alexander Sorloth and potentially Julian Alvarez up top, freeing up Samu to move and giving his club the need to cash in.
Romano mentions Bayer Leverkusen as another interested side who tried to swoop late, but the Blues have done a straight cash £35m offer for the 20 year old who completes his rapid rise from obscurity.
🚨🔵 Samu Omorodion to Chelsea, here we go! Deal in place for £35m as fixed fee from Atlético Madrid.
Seven year contract for Omorodion at Chelsea, already agreed as he’s set for medical tests.
Bayer Leverkusen and more clubs tried to enter race but Omorodion joins Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/4OAAw6mWWY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 7, 2024
A roll of the dice on raw talent
It’s certainly an intriguing move. In some ways you could ask for a more similar player to the one we bought in Jackson a year ago. A physically talented young La Liga striker who had been playing until recently in a B team then had a good streak in the top flight. Really talented but really raw.
You’d have thought they wanted something a little to Jackson, but they’ve doubled down. It’s an intense strategy, and this whole move feels like a big gamble on a player we can’t be sure is ready for a step up.