Deal imminent 

©TM/IMAGO

A remarkable transfer summer continues for Atlanta United. After selling Georgios Giakoumakis for €9.3 million to Cruz Azul and Thiago Almada in a deal worth up an initial €19.5m and up to €27.6m to the Eagle Group, left-back Caleb Wiley has now also been sold. On Monday, both Atlanta United and Chelsea announced an agreement for the 19-year-old US men’s national team talent. Transfermarkt understands that the fee is in the region of €10m plus add-ons. Wiley has signed a contract until 2030 and could be loaned out to Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg Alsace for playing time in the coming days. 

“Caleb epitomizes the pathway that we envisioned when we started this club,” Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club statement. “Born and raised in Atlanta, he joined our Academy at 11 years old, played for ATL UTD 2 and went on to earn every step in his path up to signing as a Homegrown.This latest deal will increase Atlanta United’s transfer income to €38.8m without Almada’s bonuses. Those funds will go a long way toward a significant rebuild for Atlanta mid-season. Already, the club has been linked with a move for Russian forward Aleksey Miranchuk, with Italian media reporting a potential €11m transfer fee. But that is the future. For now, Wiley becomes the latest major outgoing transfer for the Five Stripes. 

Wiley becomes the fifth most expensive outgoing U20 transfer in MLS history (overview). Wiley will also become the third most expensive American-born player to be developed and sold by MLS (overview). But that isn’t all. Among all players sold by Atlanta United, Wiley ranks third behind Miguel Almirón (to Newcastle United), Thiago Almada (Botafogo), and Pity Martínez (Al-Nassr). Finally, the transfer fee will also make him one of the ten most expensive outgoing transfers in MLS history.   

Caleb Wiley: What can Chelsea expect from the Atlanta United star? 

What can Chelsea fans expect from Caleb Wiley? Wiley might be the most talented wing-back to emerge from MLS since Alphonso Davies. A quick and agile left-back, Wiley scored an impressive three goals and two assists in his first four games to kick off the 2023 season. That productivity slowed down significantly during the second half of the 2023 season, and continuing into this season, Wiley has struggled to get numbers on the scoreboard. This season, Wiley has managed one goal and two assists in 23 games across all competitions. 

Two factors need to be kept in mind, however. First, Wiley is still a very young player and although compared to Davies, is a bit more defensive-minded and more direct in his play. Second, Atlanta United have had a difficult start to the season and the turnover in players hasn’t helped either. Still, Wiley has impressed enough to be nominated to the US men’s national team that will play at the Paris Olympic Games this summer. Following that tournament, Wiley will likely remain in France to continue his development and hopefully long-term become a player for Chelsea’s starting XI.