Chelsea sign Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls

Follow us on Google Discover

The 20-year-old US international centre-back has joined the Blues on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

Chelsea have completed the signing of US international Matt Miazga from the New York Red Bulls.

The 20-year-old centre-back, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge, cost a reported £3.5 million fee and joins the Blues after being named the 2015 US Soccer Young Male Player of the Year last month.

Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Miazga said: “I am very happy to sign for Chelsea, a world-famous club with a reputation for major success. I am delighted to be in the Premier League, the best league in the world, and can’t wait to meet my team-mates and get going.

“I am still at the beginning of my career but I believe this is the place to develop and learn from some of the best players in the world.”

Miazga originally joined the Red Bulls as a Homegrown Player in May 2013 but featured just eight times for the club over his first two seasons in MLS before seeing his reputation soar during a breakout 2015 campaign.

The New Jersey native, who holds a Polish passport by way of his parents, not only established himself as a regular starter for Jesse Marsch’s men but also proved instrumental in helping them win the Supporters’ Shield title, making 26 regular season appearances and scoring once.

His promising performances saw Jurgen Klinsmann hand him his senior international debut in the USA’s opening World Cup qualifier against Saint Vincent and Grenadines in November, while he later finished fourth in the voting for the MLS Defender of the Year award.

Reports had recently linked the one-time capped American with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool [h/t Daily Mail], but Chelsea had been long-rumoured suitors before securing his signature.

The 6ft 3in stopper had less than 12 months to run on his Red Bulls contract and his hometown club had little choice but to cash in on his signature now rather than risk losing him for nothing after the 2016 season.