Chelsea on the verge of landing big blow on rivals Arsenal as they are set to sign 18-year-old starlet Omari Hutchinson – whose skills “amazed Pele” – after he completed his medical
- Arsenal midfielder Omari Hutchinson is set to join London rivals Chelsea
- The 18-year-old has completed a medical at Stamford Bridge and will join soon
- He didn’t play for Arsenal’s first team but was named on the bench several times
- He once received high praise from Brazil legend Pele at a futsal tournament
Chelsea are set to land a big blow on London rivals Arsenal with the signing of midfielder Omari Hutchinson.
Hutchinson, 18, is yet to make a first-team appearance for Arsenal after working his way through their youth system, but has been named on the bench on several occasions.
Now he has completed a medical at Stamford Bridge to join up with the Chelsea squad and leave Mikel Arteta’s side.
Omari Hutchinson is set to sign for Chelsea from Arsenal after completing a medical
Hutchinson (centre left) was named on Arsenal’s bench on several occasions last season
The midfielder will arrive at Chelsea with high praise to his name, after Brazil legend Pele was left ‘speechless’ upon seeing his freestyle skills.
Hutchinson met Pele at a futsal tournament hosted by the former World Cup winner in south London.
‘We finished the tournament and all the teams came round in a huddle, and the F2 Freestylers came out and started showcasing their skills,’ Hutchinson told GOAL in 2021.
‘They asked one member from each team to come out and do a skill and all the boys were saying “go on Omari, go on!”
Brazil legend Pele was said to have been impressed with Hutchinson at a futsal tournament
The 18-year-old has been featured regularly for Arsenal’s youth teams over the years
‘So I went up there and did it. They gave me the ball and I just started doing my skills. When we got a picture with Pele afterwards, he said something like ‘that was amazing’ in his Brazilian accent.
Hutchinson is set to join up with Chelsea’s U23 side originally with his sights set on a first-team debut.
He came close to making his debut under Arteta for Arsenal, and was named as a substitute against the likes of Liverpool, Burnley and Nottingham Forest.
But an appearance never materialised and he will now swap his focus from red to blue, hoping to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans when he signs his deal.
Chelsea are also due to sign Tyler Dibling from Southampton and Zak Sturge from Brighton.
Defender Bashir Humphreys is also set to sign a new contract.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk