Omari Hutchinson, a starlet at Arsenal, is close to joining their London rivals, Chelsea. Since joining Arsenal as a young boy from Charlton Athletic, Hutchinson has not played for the first team yet.
The 18-year-old made an impression while playing for the Arsenal youth teams. But this summer, he might be moving on to the blue side of London.
Hutchinson was expected to have a bright future at the Emirates after a brilliant season for the youth team last year, so the transfer came as a bit of a surprise. He was a key member of the Gunners’ Under-23 team that finished third in Premier League 2 last season. But with first-team opportunities hard to come by, he has decided to take practise his trade elsewhere.
Hutchinson was graceful in his exit though, and thanked the Arsenal faithful for their support.
My experience with Arsenal has been a fantastic and memorable one. I will always remember my time here and the beautiful journey it has taken me on. This will be one to remember and never to forget.
Omar Hutchinson on Instagram
On the other hand, Chelsea fans are delighted with this signing. In a statement to announce his arrival, the head of their youth development Jim Fraser described Hutchinson as a “brilliant addition”
We are delighted that Omari has agreed to sign for Chelsea. He is a brilliant addition who joins us as an exciting emerging talent hoping to make a quick impression in the senior game.
Jim Fraser
Will Arsenal Regret The Sale of Hutchinson?
Ever since his appointment, Mikel Arteta has instilled a culture at the club that places a strong emphasis on developing young players. A trend of letting their youth players go to competitors can be a mistake in the long run.
A team like Chelsea being prepared to sign Hutchinson is a hint that the 18-year-old is a talented prodigy because academy players from the top Premier League clubs sometimes leave to pursue careers in the lower divisions of English football. But this was certainly not the case this time.
Follow us on Twitter for more football news.
For more sports updates, make sure to follow us on:
