Academy striker Jude Soonsup-Bell to leave Chelsea in January
According to The Athletic (subscription required), Chelsea academy striker Jude Soonsup-Bell, whose contract expires in the summer, is set to leave the club in January.
It was reported a couple of months ago that the youngster was considering his future in west London following his contract expiry in the summer.
Talks of a new contract stalled last January itself. That was a time when the striker decided his future is away from Chelsea. He has now decided to bring his summer departure forward to the winter one.
A number of clubs in the Premier League and European clubs are alerted to the fact that Soonsup-Bell is available for free and may make a move for him very soon.
One of the reasons behind the 18-year-old’s exit, despite seven wonderful years at Chelsea, is that he is looking at a pathway where he plays more first-team games and progress as a player. It is good and progressive thinking from a young player.
He made his senior team debut at Chelsea last season under Thomas Tuchel, playing 45 minutes in the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Brentford.
Soonsup-Bell played 77 games for various Chelsea youth teams, scoring 29 goals and assisting seven. He played most of his games as a centre-forward but operated as a winger on either side as well.
About his attributes, the England U-19 international is good at dribbling in tight spaces, finishes the chances well, is strong in duels and does make intelligent runs.
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A move to a club where he gets senior football regularly would be good for his development and enhance his learning as a player. There is only so much you can learn playing in the youth setup. So, this move from the youngster makes sense.