Jodee Brown
Weeks after a tryout for Newcastle United, teenage Jamaican football phenom, Dujuan “Whisper” Richards, signs a deal to join fellow English Premier League club Chelsea.
The 17-year-old Richards, who starred for Kingston College during the 2022 schoolboy football season, signed a pre-contract agreement to join the London-based club. Richards joins Chelsea from Phoenix Football Academy, which is the brainchild of Craig Butler, the adoptive father and manager of Aston Villa star, Leon Bailey.
Official. Chelsea sign Jamaican talent Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards — born in 2005, wonderkid joining from Phoenix All Stars 🔵🇯🇲 #CFC
Newcastle were close to signing him but Chelsea have now completed the deal, director Joe Shields was crucial in the negotiations. pic.twitter.com/YW3Ron6raT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 11, 2023
Richards quickly rose up the ranks thanks to his impressive showings for Kingston College and Phoenix, leading to interest from Newcastle, who brought him in for a two-week trial to try and impress their academy coaches.
Newcastle maintained an interest in Richards after the tryout. However, reports of Chelsea’s interest soon surfaced, with “Whisper” due to arrive at Stamford Bridge following his 18th birthday.
Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign 17 year old Jamaican talent Dujuan “whisper” Richards, here’s the best goals we could find of him 👇🏻
— ChelseaFC (@Chelsea_FC_87) March 11, 2023
Meanwhile, Richards looks set to make his debut with the senior Reggae Boyz this month as they take on Trinidad and Tobago in a pair of friendlies on Mar. 11 and Mar. 14.
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