Chelsea are close to an agreement with Aston Villa to sign 18-year-old forward Omari Kellyman.
A deal is expected to be struck for around £19million.
The finer details still need to be finalised between the two clubs and player and Kellyman will need to undergo a medical and agree personal terms before a deal can be completed.
Kellyman joined the Villa academy from Derby County in 2022 and broke into the first team in 2023.
The deal is £1million less than the £20million Chelsea paid to sign teenage midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022.
Kellyman made two Premier League appearances last season, featuring from the bench against Manchester City and Crystal Palace in the final two months of the campaign.
He was also utilised as a late substitute twice in the Europa Conference League.
Kellyman signed a new long-term contract with Villa in October.
He has been capped by England at youth level after switching his international allegiance from Northern Ireland in 2023, and made his Under-20 debut for England this month.
The Athletic also reported this month Villa have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign left-back Ian Maatsen.
With a £35million release clause in Maatsen’s contract specific only to Borussia Dortmund and now expired anyway, Villa and Chelsea have compromised on a fee just above that figure. Personal terms are also in place on a six-year contract, which Villa have been working to finalise.
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
