Chelsea complete transfer for forward for initial £3m fee despite three-month injury setback

Chelsea have sealed the transfer of a young Southampton forward this month.

After eight signings in January to bolster Graham Potter‘s first-team squad, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership are continuing to strengthen the club’s academy.

Chelsea have been in talks with Southampton over a deal for 17-year-old Jimmy-Jay Morgan and a fee of £3 million plus add-ons was agreed with the Saints to bring him to west London, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

Morgan underwent his medical tests last week. Fabrizio Romano added that the deal was to be completed on Thursday (February 9) for the young forward.

He will put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract until June 2026.

The Athletic have now stated the deal for Morgan has been completed, which sees him return to Chelsea after joining the academy from the age of eight.

However, Morgan won’t be available straight away for Chelsea. It was reported by Felix Johnston that he had suffered a knee injury and would require surgery, keeping him sidelined for around three months.

Southampton boss Nathan Jones was quizzed last month on Morgan’s future prior to their FA Cup defeat to Blackpool, with the forward, as claimed by Hampshire Live, keen for senior first team opportunities.

“Young players will always get opportunities at this football club. They have to earn that opportunity and keep doing well because there’s a pathway here for the younger ones to do well and we want to make sure we keep hold of ours.

“None of them will be leaving the building because we believe that development isn’t a six-month process or a two-month process. Development is getting to 35 and looking back and saying you made good decisions, and ‘they made good decisions for me’.

“Jimmy is 16 years of age. He’s a fantastic player with a bright future if he picks the right choices and the people that are working with him handle him well and if we work him in training and develop him into the right level.

“If it’s right for us tomorrow to put a youngster in, we’ll do it. What we won’t do is put anyone in gratuitously. They have to earn it, they have to be ready. When they do and they get their opportunities, we’d like them to take it, so we’ll see.”