'Secret' Chelsea transfer confirmed after January as new player in training before Crystal Palace
New Chelsea youngster Pape Dadouda Diong has confirmed his move to the club before even an official announcement is made. Diong joined over the winter from Senegal outfit AF Darou Salam.
Diong, 17, is capped for his country at youth level having played at the Under-17 World Cup at the end of 2023. He was also spotted at Stamford Bridge earlier this season alongside fellow Blues recruit Kendry Paez.
The pair are both hopeful of establishing themselves at the club over the years to come as elite midfielders. Unlike Kendry, who was loaned back to Independiente in Ecuador after agreeing to join last summer, Diong has immediately had the chance to prove himself in the first-team group.
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The player could yet leave on loan to a side in Europe, namely to BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg that already have youth prospects Angelo Gabriel and Andrey Santos on loan from Chelsea. For now, though, Diong has been granted the chance to try and make an impact on his new teammates.
Taking to Instagram, Diong posted four images of himself at Cobham alongside Alfie Gilchrist, Thiago Silva, and Trevoh Chalobah. Under the watchful gaze of Mauricio Pochettino, it is a massive moment for Diong.
«First step [blue heart emoji, lightning emoji]» he wrote on Monday evening, just hours before his new club took to the field to play Crystal Palace. Diong has an impressive defensive record on paper and has been able to show his technical skills as well as ability to shield a backline in his junior years.
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