Chelsea have signed Borussia Dortmund wide forward Christian Pulisic for £58m (€64m), in a deal which will see the United States player remain at the German club on loan until the end of the current season.
The 20-year-old joined Dortmund as a youth player in 2015, and has made 115 appearances so far, contributing 15 goals and 24 assists. His breakout season in 2016/17 saw him net three goals and contribute eight assists in 29 league games, while he fell behind a little the following season.
This year, he’s experienced a little resurgence, but has somewhat fallen behind Jadon Sancho in the pecking order. The large fee paid by Chelsea represents an investment in his top-flight experience at a young age and his potential, which is undoubtedly high having represented the United States 23 times and scored nine goals already.
Transfer deal reaction
Pulisic’s motivations for the move were articulated with an interview he conducted with Chelsea’s official website: “In the summer I move on to Chelsea and to a new competition, the English Premier League. ‘It’s a privilege to have signed for such a legendary club and I look forward to working hard towards being a contributor to their team of world class players.”
Dortmund director Michael Zorc said: “It was always Christian’s dream to play in the Premier League. That certainly has to do with his American background, and as a result we were unable to extend his contract. Against this background, we have decided to accept an extremely lucrative bid by Chelsea, given the low contract maturity.”
Read more: Chelsea transfer targets: 8 signings Maurizio Sarri could make in January
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: “We are delighted to have signed one of Europe’s most sought-after young players. Christian has shown his quality during a fantastic spell in Germany and at just 20, we believe he has the potential to become an important Chelsea player for many years to come.
“We look forward to welcoming him to Stamford Bridge in the summer and wish him and Dortmund every success for the remainder of the season.”
Commentators heralded the deal as commercially savvy, offering squad depth, while querying how Calum Hudson-Odoi would get appearances next season. Chelsea fans expressed dismay that the first signing in January was not of a striker:
Don't presume that Pulisic signing means Hazard is gone, or that Hudson-Odoi will be sold. Chelsea would love to go into next season with all three #cfc
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) January 2, 2019
Christian Pulisic is undoubtedly a great talent, and a positive addition for Chelsea. Though it does seem odd to spend nigh-on £60m on a player desperately needed now, only to loan him back to the selling club for the next half-season.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) January 2, 2019
Chelsea are signing a 20-year-old Christian Pulisic for €64m, which may well force 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi to seek a move for £25m. Both are extremely highly-rated. You do wonder if the two players were switched around whether exactly the same would happen.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) January 2, 2019
Christian Pulisic is worth €64m to Chelsea because Dortmund played him. He is two years old than Callum Hudson-Odoi who is just as versatile as a forward and extremely talented and would arguably be worth more.
I just can’t get my head around deals like this, to be honest.
— Jake Entwistle (@JakeEntwistle) January 2, 2019
£57.5m isn't cheap for someone who will have just 12 months left on thier contract when he joins for real in the summer. #Pulisic #cfc https://t.co/djqMNEQgGy
— Simon Johnson (@sjstandardsport) January 2, 2019
Chelsea were looking at Pulisic last summer before they appointed Sarri. I'm sure he will have been consulted but this is very much a case of them landing a long-term club target. I believe he would have joined whoever was in charge.
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) January 2, 2019
Style of play
A dribbler who favours his right but has a good left foot, Pulisic likes to beat defenders with pace and create chances in attacking situations. He’s technically adept, and his work rate is excellent, and Chelsea have bought a true athlete who has rarely experienced injury problems or fatigue.
He will repeatedly take on wing backs and pin them back. This has value in containing attacking wing-backs and against players who will struggle to keep up with his pace, but if he’s against a top defensive talent he may struggle to get joy. He does draw defenders and fouls, creating attacking opportunities for others on his team.
Read more: Christian Pulisic: Chelsea’s long-term solution for a future without Eden Hazard?
He can pass very well and split a defence, but there is still room for improvement and it’s currently unknown how well he would take to ‘Sarriball’. He could also be a huge threat against sides with a high defensive line if he looked to spring the offside trap more. Most importantly, he’s one of the players who will keep the tempo of an attack at an exhilarating pace.
One concern is his defensive positioning. He works hard when he has to press a man, but can certainly struggle if forced back into a more defensive shape. He can also frequently lose possession attempting to beat defenders. Another minor concern will be the manner in which he appeared to force a Premier League move, with murmurs he fell out of favour as a result among the Dortmund hierarchy.
All in all, Chelsea have built a promising prospect but at an extravagant price for the contract duration he had remaining. He may develop into a very good player for Chelsea, but will need a little work and possibly at the expense of younger, equally promising players already at the club.
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