Official: League One side confirm loan deal for highly-rated Chelsea starlet

Peterborough United confirm loan deal for 19-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper Lucas Bergström

League One side Peterborough United have announced the arrival of highly-rated teenage goalkeeper Lucas Bergström on loan from Chelsea. 

The Posh confirmed the season-long acquisition of the Finland U21 international in a statement on their club website. Having been part of Chelsea’s youth set-up since 2019, this will be Bergström’s first taste of senior-level football. 

The 19-year-old stopper was named in Chelsea’s 25-man squad for the 21/22 Premier League season as the fourth-choice goalkeeper behind Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arizzabalaga, and Marcus Bettinelli. 

However, he has no senior team appearances under his belt and isn’t likely to get one next season either. Southampton U18 goalkeeper Eddie Beach is expected to join Chelsea’s academy soon, hence loaning Bergström out makes perfect sense for the Blues.

The deal offers him a chance of experiencing senior-level football whilst also making room in the developmental squad at Cobham.  Peterborough boss Grant McCann expressed his gratitude to Chelsea for allowing the move to happen and said, 

“Lucas is very highly-rated at Chelsea. He is commanding, a very good shot-stopper and extremely aggressive from crosses and good with his feet. 

“I must give huge thanks to Carlo Cudicini and Chelsea for trusting us in developing Lucas further and we can’t wait to work with him.” 

Who’s the next number one?

Eduoard Mendy’s status as Chelsea’s number one custodian is undisputed and it will remain that way at least for a while. The question now remains, who’s next in line? 

Nathan Baxter springs to mind, owing to his excellent loan spell at Hull City. Given his performances, the Tigers wouldn’t mind signing him permanently but Baxter has aspirations of being Chelsea’s number one someday. 

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Bergström is extremely highly-rated by everyone at Cobham, and next season will be his first chance to draw some serious attention. Peterborough just got relegated from the Championship last season, so they are expected to challenge for promotion next term – a very good test indeed for Bergström. 

USMNT and Chicago Fire’s 18-year-old GK Gabriel Slolina is also expected to join Chelsea. In a few years’ time, there could be a serious goalkeeping dilemma at Stamford Bridge. Not a bad thing, necessarily.