It’s officially official now- Gaga Slonina, real name Gabriel Slonina, will leave the Chicago Fire and join Chelsea FC. Slonina, 18, moves over on a $10 million transfer fee, making him the most expensive player ever sold in Fire history.
With add-ons, that sum could rise to $15m, and regardless of the ultimate final sum, Slonina is the youngest player in Fire history to ever be sold to a big five league in Europe. We first broke news of this transfer over two weeks ago, and today the official announcements were made by both clubs.
@PaulMBanks ?
Great job on breaking the scoop a couple of weeks ago.
Take It To The Bank ™?— Gonzalo Del Rio ? ? ? ? (@gonzalodelriov) August 2, 2022
“I joined this Club with ambitions of playing at the highest level and it’s been a dream come true to wear the Chicago Fire jersey,” reads a statement attributed to Slonina, who choose the USMNT over Poland for this international affiliation.
“This Club has become my second home, my second family, and there are so many people that have played a big role in helping me get to where I am today. I’m so thankful for all the support that I’ve received from my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone associated with the Club.
“It’s been an incredible honor to work alongside each one of you.”
The young shot-stopper will stay with the club until the end of the MLS season, and he’ll become a part of the London club on January 1. Slonina continued on, shouting his hometown of Addison.
“To the fans, I want to thank you all for supporting a local boy from Addison,” he added.
Gaga to @ChelseaFC confirmed. ? pic.twitter.com/uD96GmlXss
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) August 2, 2022
The suburbanite is one of many homegrowns making an impact for the Fire this season.
“You have inspired me to work my hardest day in and day out. I promise that I will continue to give everything in these final 11 games to help get us back into the playoffs and compete for a championship.”
The statement from Chicago Fire FC Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson reads as follows:
“It’s been incredible to see Gaga’s continued growth on and off the field during my first season with the club.
“His talent has been on full display, but I’ve been most impressed by his mentality and his willingness to constantly add more to his game at such a young age.
“This transfer speaks to the talent that exists within the Club and our philosophy toward developing young players. Gaga fully deserves this opportunity and we look forward to finishing the 2022 season with him on a high note.”
Added Chicago Fire FC Sporting Director Georg Heitz (who will meet the media tomorrow to discuss this transfer in more depth;
“We’re very proud and happy to see Gaga reach this milestone moment in his career.
“Since joining the club, Gaga has embodied what it means to be a Chicago Fire player. In addition to his incredible talent, he is mature beyond his years, extremely hard working, and a fantastic teammate.
“Gaga is a role model to many young aspiring footballers in Chicago, and this transfer demonstrates that a player can progress to the first team from our Academy before joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
Welcome to Chelsea.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.