Chelsea beat Man Utd to snap up 16-year-old Edwin Andersson
Chelsea have beaten Manchester United to snap up 16-year-old Edwin Andersson from Swedish outfit IFK Gothenburg.
Frank Lampard’s side had an agreement for the promising winger in place before the January transfer window closed last week.
Andersson told SvenskaFans: “It is a dream come true. Chelsea was the club that suited me best and it is a club with incredibly good conditions.
“I usually stick to the left and would well describe myself as a technical player, fast, and like to challenge a lot 1 to 1 and create chances.
“Yes I have (visited Stamford Bridge). Magical arena!”
Gothenburg’s academy manager Jonas Olsson confirmed the move and admitted losing Andersson was a big blow to his side.
He said: “We of course wish Edwin good luck.
“We would have liked to have seen him stay with us but that he is being recruited to Chelsea is a good mark on our business.”
Andersson – compared to Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo – had a trial with Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Manchester United 18 months ago.
Chelsea had a deal provisionally agreed with the emerging talent, who turns 17 in November, for several months before the deal went through.
A dream come true. Chelsea was the club that suited me best and it is a club with incredibly good conditions
Speaking to Expressen last year, his father Mikael Andersson said: “There have been an incredible number of clubs from virtually all countries that have been interested in him.
“But he has chosen to go to Chelsea when it’s time. According to the rules he must be 16 first and then it is up to the clubs to agree.
“There’s still some details, but the day it’s time he has decided that it’ll be Chelsea.
“It is a chance you can take if the package is right. They have very good education and care about you as a human being, which one might not believe.”
He added: “It is the dream of every boy to have such an opportunity, that is where we are now. But it should be the right conditions, otherwise it will be nothing.
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“He’s pretty much like Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea. When he was younger, he was a little more like Ronaldo. He mainly stays on the left.”