Official: Chelsea youngster Jacob Maddox also joins Vitória Guimarães SC

Chelsea are always on the lookout for potential partnerships, official or unofficial, with clubs all around the world, and we may be seeing the start of one with Vitória Guimarães SC in Portugal (not to be confused with Vitória Setúbal, with whom were said to be doing the same a few years ago — unclear if that was ever true though).

Or perhaps we’re just doing a solid for one-time Chelsea midfielder Tiago Mendes, who was appointed the new manager of Vitória Guimarães two weeks ago.

In any case, as confirmed today by the club, Chelsea youngster Jacob Maddox has signed a 4-year contract with the Primeira Liga side, joining fellow Chelsea youngster, goalkeeper Nicolas Tié in doing so.

Maddox had one year left to run on the four-year deal he signed back in 2017, though there’s no word on how much a potential transfer fee, if any, may have been. The 21-year-old joined Chelsea as a teenager, signing from Bristol City as a 13-year-old. He spent last season at Tranmere Rovers (third division) and Southampton’s reserve side (strange loan, that), failing to build on the excellent first season out on loan at Cheltenham Town.

Vitória had already signed a couple other players from England in recent transfer windows, including former Spurs youngster Marcus Edwards and former Aston Villa youngster Eesah Suliman, both of whom were Maddox’s teammates for the England youth teams, including the one that won the U19 Euros in 2017. Those relationships played a part in the transfer.

“I am very excited. I followed Vitória over the last season and realizing how much Edwards and Suliman like to be here and feel valued here, it is obvious that I was very happy when this opportunity arose and it was an immediate ‘yes’.

“In addition to what I already knew, having talked to the President and [sporting director] Carlos Freitas was very important because I understood how ambitious the project is. I like this bet on the talent of young players and I can’t wait for the start.”

“I am a player who tries to make things happen, but I am also a team player, who understands the defensive side of the game. I want the team to count on me and that we have a great season together.”

-Jacob Maddox; source: Vitória Guimarães SC

Best of luck, Jacob!

P.S.: In somewhat related news, Danilo Pantić’s loan to FK Čukarički was finally confirmed.