Xavier Mbuyamba during a match for the Netherlands youth team.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Dutch defender Xavier Mbuyamba on a free transfer, the club confirmed on its official website.
The 18-year-old Mbuyamba started out at the MVV Maastricht academy in his native Netherlands. After making 11 first-team appearances for the club, the centre-back joined Barcelona last summer.
However, Mbuyamba did not get enough opportunities with the Barcelona B team in his debut campaign with the Catalan giants. In fact, he ended the season with just three appearances for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League.
Having been left disappointed with the lack of opportunities, Mbuyamba terminated his contract with Barcelona. Chelsea had been linked with a move for the 18-year-old, along with a number of other clubs.
However, Chelsea have beaten the competition to land the 18-year-old defender, who has been likened to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk in the past.
A statement released by the club on the official website read:
“Chelsea Football Club can also confirm the signing of Xavier Mbuyamba from Barcelona. The 18-year-old signed a professional contract at Cobham earlier this week and will join our development squad ahead of preparations for the new campaign.”
The 18-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the club, committing himself at Stamford Bridge until 2023.
Frank Lampard, in his first season in charge at Chelsea, has shown that he is prepared to back youngsters with promise. The likes of Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour have all benefited greatly from the manager’s faith.
Mbuyamba, given his potential, could enjoy similar fortunes should he make a strong impression with the youth team in the upcoming season.
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