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Chelsea academy player Daishawn Redan, a key part of the U19’s UEFA Youth League runners-up campaign, is on the verge of completing a move to Bundesliga side Hertha BSC for around €2.5m, according to several reports from Germany. The Dutch under-19 international had joined the Blues from Ajax’s academy back in 2017 and is currently under contract through 2021.
Yeah. https://t.co/iXkdEmkugh
— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) July 17, 2019
German outlet BILD claim that a medical is planned for Thursday and that Redan will be signing a five-year deal, which will keep him in Berlin until 2024 (in theory at least). Javairo Dilrosun, a former Manchester City youth player and Redan’s best friend, apparently helped in convincing the player to push for a move after joining Hertha himself last summer.
Only last month, some reports had suggested that Chelsea weren’t willing to sell Redan outright, but were looking for a loan move instead. Now, it sounds like the 18-year-old wants a permanent transfer to Germany as he doesn’t fancy his chances of breaking through into the first-team anytime soon.
When the Blues acquired the former Ajax prospect on a free transfer, he had been highly sought after by the likes of PSG, Manchester United and several other big clubs. Scoring 13 goals in 34 games for the youth setup last season, Redan will apparently be playing for Hertha’s academy initially and will only slowly be integrated into their first-team.
Chelseas Redan vor Wechsel zu Hertha - Niederländischer U-19-Nationalspieler soll 2,5 Millionen kosten #BL https://t.co/iyyHxjLzb6
— kicker | Bundesliga (@kicker_bl_li) July 17, 2019
While the stated transfer fee seems rather low, there are conflicting reports coming out of England, which claim that the eventual sum will actually be in excess of £5m. (Ed.note: but no reports of any buyback clause, unfortunately.) It wouldn’t be the worst deal considering that Redan is by no means a finished product, and he arrived on a free transfer in the first place.
But Chelsea’s goal-scoring conundrum has been a pressing issue for quite some time now, and it would be a shame to see a potential Academy solution leave. That said, if Redan is intent on leaving and believes that the appointment of Frank Lampard doesn’t change his future chances, then we can only wish him the best of luck. He’s certainly going to need it.