In the last few years, Chelsea haven’t shied away from spending their money for the future. The Blues have signed several young sensations like Estevao Willian to establish a perfect blend of experience and youthfulness. Now, the Premier League seems to be eager to add another name in the mix.
The West London club have showcased quite an interest in 17-year-old Philadelphia Union forward Malik Jakupovic, as per Sky Germany. Jakupovic has risen through the youth ranks of Philadelphia Union. Ahead of the 2026 season, Jakupovic has been promoted to the senior team and has also played at the U-15 and U-17 national levels.
Reportedly, for the U17 side, Jakupovic has recorded 12 goals in 9 appearances. Furthermore, in the 9 MLS games he has played so far, Jakupovic has recorded a goal and an assist despite playing 82 minutes combined, as per Transfermarkt. In the MLS Next Pro 2024-25 season, Jakupovic recorded 8 goals in 16 games and 418 minutes of game time.
The 17-year-old is deemed a bright prospect with an elite ceiling in the American circuit. Standing at 6’1, Jakupovic has a long wingspan and reach. Yet despite that, he has rapid pace and movement along with link-up play. In an interview with Fifa.com earlier in the year, Jakupovic described his game as quite similar to Hugo Ekitike’s, as they can both “hold off players and take them with a dribble.”
Under a veteran former player and coach like Xabi Alonso and experienced strikers like Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck, the 17-year-old can develop with time and help the Blues in the long-term future.
However, signing Jakupovic won’t be that easy, as German club Borussia Dortmund is interested in the teenage sensation as well. Sources from Caught Offside claim that Dortmund even submitted an offer of around 2.6M pounds (3M Euros) for Jakupovic, who is under contract till the 2030 season with Philadelphia Union.
Notably, the MLS club has rejected the offer, suggesting that they aren’t keen to let go of the player so easily and want a double-digit million-dollar fee. In that scenario, Chelsea will have to spend the big bucks to land the player at Stamford Bridge.
It will be interesting to see if Alonso and the Chelsea front office actually go to that extent to sign a 17-year-old teenager, especially given they have the Alex Scott deal to lock in the winter transfer window. It won’t be a shock, though, if it happens, as the Blues spent around 29M pounds to land Estevano Willian at Stamford Bridge. For now, there haven’t been any communications between either of the clubs, and all eyes will be on the January window for any movements.
