- 15 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea join Arsenal in race for wonderkid
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 9 Oct 2024 11:39 BST
- 5 min read
Exclusive
Arsenal and Chelsea are both keeping close tabs on teenage sensation Baye Coulibaly, FootballTransfers has been told.
The 18-year-old broke onto the scene last year during the U17 World Cup, featuring for Mali. Although he played as a centre-back in that tournament, he is better known as a No.6.
Both Premier League /a> clubs are now monitoring the midfielder, who plays for Croatian side NK Kustosija.
Competition also comes from LaLiga side Getafe, who are closely monitoring the teenager's progress.
READ MORE: Cole Palmer is the best player in the world
Coulibaly's deal with Kustosija runs to 2027. He currently has a representative agreement with the agency Niagara Sports Company, which has the likes of Dani Olmo and Alvaro Morata on their books.
Coulibaly signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Kustosija in February, having moved from the Etoiles Mande academy in Mali. His subsequent progress has been sufficient to attract some of the world's biggest clubs to take a look.
And having already turned 18, he is eligible to make an international move.
Kustosija have made some notable deals in their history, but Coulibaly could be the biggest one yet. Last year, 17-year-old Dino Klapija moved to RB Leipzig U19 for €3 million amid interest from Manchester United.
And 20-year-old Mikayil Faye moved from the Croatian club to Barcelona Athletic in June 2023 for €1.5m.
Cole Palmer picks up award
It comes after, Cole Palmer won the England Men’s Player of the Year award for the 2023/24 season on Tuesday.
He made the €47m move from boyhood club Manchester City last year and has developed into Chelsea's most important player and arguably the best in the Premier League.
Palmer scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists during his first season with the Blues, and he earned his first senior England call-up in November 2023 after a stellar first few months at Stamford Bridge.
Only Erling Haaland (27) netted more Premier League goals than Palmer (22) last term, and the Chelsea man won the PFA Young Player of the Year award following a tremendous campaign at club level.
