‘Am ready for the pressure’, ‘Super excited to join Chelsea’ – Player speaks on his Chelsea move ahead of January transfer
This summer, Chelsea signed American goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who is unquestionably a future star. Slonina is a young, promising goalkeeper from a division in which English clubs rarely take a chance.
“I’m super excited just to be in that environment and see what it’s like in the Premier League,” Gabriel Slonina told the official MLS website about his upcoming move to Chelsea.
“How the coach acts when we win, when we lose, what’s the locker room look like? Just that level of pressure, I can’t wait to be in there and be in that environment because I think you’re going to learn from every single person there.
“The path that they showed me and presented me while I was talking to them was something I really liked.
“They really focused on a player’s development and making sure they’re seeing the right things, playing games and getting minutes. Because obviously for a young goalkeeper, that’s super important. You can train a lot, but you still have to see those game minutes and everything. I was drawn to the fans, to the location of where it’s at. And it’s Chelsea, so it was a no-brainer.”
Slonina has already signed a long-term contract with Chelsea but remained with MLS side Chicago Fire until the January transfer window.
It’s understood that Chelsea have agreed to pay $15 million, including add-ons, for the goalkeeper who was also pursued by Real Madrid.