Chelsea beat Arsenal in race to sign Southampton’s Jimmy-Jay Morgan
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As well as Leeds United and Manchester City, Jimmy-Jay Morgan was mentioned.
According to rumours, Chelsea and Southampton striker Jimmy-Jay Morgan have reached a deal.
The 17-year-old wonderkid will reportedly join the Blues for £6 million plus add-ons, and Morgan will initially be absorbed into the Chelsea academy.
According to Hampshire Live, Morgan turned down a professional contract at St. Mary’s after being linked to all four clubs, and Chelsea beat out Manchester City, Leeds United, and Arsenal for his services.
While Morgan hasn’t appeared in a single game for Southampton’s first team, he has been an unused replacement four times this season, notably in games against Brighton in the Premier League and Manchester City in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal.
However, he has scored four goals, provided five assists over the course of eight Premier League 2 games, and added two more goals during two FA Youth Cup contests.
Morgan has also performed admirably for the England U17 team, scoring six goals in his first seven appearances.
Louis Carey, the head coach of Southampton’s youth department, had remarked that Morgan was “one of the greatest” finishes he had ever seen.
In the meanwhile, when Morgan declined a professional contract with the club last week, Saints manager Nathan Jones was asked about Morgan’s future.
At our football club, young players will always have opportunities, he assured.
‘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 17 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.’
