Sterling helps Chelsea land exciting teenager who LOVES Lukaku

Cameron Smith

• 25 Mar 2024 16:04 GMT
• 3 min read

Nigerian teenager Hafiz Umar Ibrahim has joined Chelsea on trial, with Raheem Sterling heavily involved in the move.

Ibrahim, 18, recently trained at Bodo/Glimt and he has begun a two-week trial at Chelsea, according to The Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella.

The teenager reportedly spoke to Sterling on a video call ahead of the move and Ibrahim will now look to impress in order to earn a full time contract with the Blues.

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He is currently plying his trade for Nigerian club Ojodu City, but he is actively looking for a European move and Chelsea are interested in purchasing him as they aim to better utilise the African market.

The striker netted 10 goals in six games during the Viareggio Cup youth tournament in Italy earlier this year, with one of his strikes coming against Manchester City’s U21 side.

Ibrahim is expected to join Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg if his trial at Stamford Bridge is a success.

As per Kinsella, he is a massive fan of Chelsea loanee Lukaku, previously admitting: “[I like Lukaku] because he fights, he’s strong, he scores, he helps his team, he does everything.”

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Raheem Sterling to leave Chelsea?

Despite his role in securing Ibrahim’s trial at Chelsea, Sterling’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge is not yet secure. Some reports have stated that he could be a transfer target for Saudi Arabia this summer, while contrary news suggests that these rumours are wide of the mark.

Either way, he was recently criticised by former Chelsea defender Scott Minto, who said on TalkSPORT: “Raheem Sterling missed a one-on-one [versus Leicester City]; he missed a penalty where he shouldn’t really have taken it in the first place. It should’ve been given to Cole Palmer.

“Remember that penalty he scored against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge and he handled all the pressure against his former team, in the last minute with everyone watching and he was able to handle it?

“And Raheem Sterling, as good a player as he is and it seems ridiculous to say, because I’d hate to have marked him, but he’s never really struck the ball really well as a professional footballer. So I wouldn’t have him on free-kicks or penalties.”