Chelsea have completed the signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City.
The Athletic reported on Sunday Chelsea had reached an agreement with Leicester for the 25-year-old midfielder for a fee of £30million ($38m). He has now signed a six-year contract to keep him at the club until 2030.
Dewsbury-Hall is regarded as an ideal fit for the style of football Chelsea want to play under new head coach Enzo Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge earlier this summer.
Advertisement
“Well what can I say?” Dewsbury-Hall said upon leaving Leicester. “What a journey it’s been. 17 years of my life devoted to this club and it’s been a pleasure. I’ve loved every minute of my time at this football club and created some memories & friendships I’ll never forget.
“I’m very proud of what we achieved together last season — creating memories of a lifetime for us all. But bigger than that, hopefully going some way to righting the wrongs of that relegation season.
The overwhelming amount of messages I’ve received in the past few days has honestly touched me and I thank each and every person for taking the time to do so, it means so much to me and my family.”
Dewsbury-Hall started 41 of Leicester’s 46 league games under Maresca last season, providing 12 goals and 14 assists as they returned to the top flight at the first time of asking as Championship winners.
In a separate transaction, The Athletic reported Leicester are close to agreeing a deal to sign 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder Michael Golding.
Dewsbury-Hall joined Leicester at the age of eight in 2006 and progressed through the youth system to make his first-team debut in 2020. His Leicester contract had been due to run until 2027.
Brighton held talks over signing Dewsbury-Hall in January but a move never progressed.
Chelsea have already completed the signings of Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa and Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer from Fulham this summer, while Ian Maatsen, Hakim Ziyech and Thiago Silva have departed.
GO DEEPER
Chelsea and Dewsbury-Hall: First, why? Second, why? Actually, it makes sense
Why did Chelsea want to sign Dewsbury-Hall?
Analysis from Simon Johnson and Rob Tanner
Dewsbury Hall’s displays under Maresca for Leicester in the Championship last season led to him being voted the club’s player of the year and players’ player of the year (and The Athletic’s Championship player of the season).
It is no surprise Maresca is on board with this pursuit, but Chelsea have not just decided to go along with it to keep the Italian happy. Dewsbury-Hall fits the system Maresca likes to use and provides something different to what they have in the squad because he is a left-footed midfielder.
Advertisement
In Maresca’s plan, the high central midfielders play key roles. With the holding midfielder and inside full-back anchoring in front of a back three, it is up to the central midfielders to play in between the lines and link the attack with the wide players and the lone striker. Under Maresca, Chelsea will attack with a five and defend with five.
At Leicester, Dewsbury-Hall was encouraged to get into the box, to contribute goals and assists, while Wilfred Ndidi offered a little more defensive insurance if the attack broke down and the opposition countered. It paid off. Dewsbury-Hall scored or assisted 29 per cent of Leicester’s 89 goals as they clinched automatic promotion to the Premier League. He scored 12 times, a target that was part of a bet with Maresca. His prize? A dinner paid for by the Italian.
(Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)