American international Christian Pulisic has officially joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in a £58 million deal this week. His transfer, however, continues to raise eyebrows and split opinions.
Pulisic will spend the rest of the season on loan back at BVB. He will join his new club in the summer of 2019. He signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Stamford Bridge outfit and will remain in London until 2024.
Who is Christian Pulisic?
The 20-year-old American is a record-breaker.
Pulisic became the USMNT’s youngster captain at 20 years and 63 days old in a friendly defeat to Italy in November. He is also the youngster player ever to find the net twice in Bundesliga, having done it at the age of 17.
On Wednesday, Christian Pulisic became the most expensive American player in football history, thus crushing another record at the very dawn of his professional career.
The Borussia Dortmund winger is an exciting player who’s been on the radar of several Europe’s top clubs. Pulisic is a versatile forward who is capable of filling in a number of roles up front. He can play as a central attacker or on either wing. Technically gifted, Pulisic boasts creativity and ingenuity that make him an exciting player to watch.
A Good Investment for Chelsea?
As one of the most exciting youngsters in world football Christian Pulisic has been chased by a long list of clubs which most prominently included Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp is well aware of Pulisic’s talents from his time managing Borussia Dortmund.
It would appear that Klopp and Pulisic were victims of poor timing despite the apparent desire to once again work together. Liverpool are packed with plenty of talent in Pulisic’s position and with Chelsea going through a transitional phase at the moment it does seem as if the Blues are a better fit for the American.
His transfer to Stamford Bridge did raise a couple of eyebrows though.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, for one, amazingly admitted he had no idea that Chelsea were signing Pulisic this winter. The Italian was asked to give his opinion on the American a month ago but kept it all under wraps even against the knowledge of their own head coach.
“Today I have known that the deal is done but I didn’t know anything”, he said. “I don’t know. I am not in control of the market. I have to think about the pitch, improving my team and the offensive phase.”
Chelsea are not exactly known for their patience and with Roman Abramovich pulling all of the strings himself, the deal to sign Pulisic should not come as a big surprise. It makes little sense from the player’s perspective, however, and could be quite indicative.
Story Behind the Transfer
Born to parents of Croatian descent, both of whom were professional athletes, Christian Pulisic joined Dortmund’s youth setup in 2015. Barcelona were interested in getting the talented American as well but his parents decided Germany was a better option at the time. And they were right.
Pulisic excelled in Dortmund’s youth side. Ten goals and eight assists in just 15 matches earned him a chance to impress with the first team less than a year since joining the club. His career went through an upward trajectory ever since – during which time Pulisic broke records and made his name as one of the world’s most exciting players – but his path hit a halt with Thomas Tuchel leaving the club.
Days after Tuchel was relieved of his duties at BVB, Pulisic got in a disagreement with the club management. With Ousmane Dembele forcing his move out of the club and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang packing his bags for Arsenal, Pulisic lost his focus.
The American was expected to become the club’s leading star in a difficult moment for the club. Yet, he is now a player running on fumes with very little to offer. Contract renewal hit an unassailable point and, heading into the new 2018/19 season, Pulisic became a player destined to leave.
His place in the team is currently usurped by Jadon Sancho whose immediate impact ushered new dawn at Borussia Dortmund. Pulisic lost his place in the team and is sure to be given a marginal role until the end of the season in which BVB stand at 8/11 betting odds to lift the Bundesliga title.
Borussia Dortmund’s out-of-favour star became the third most expensive signing in the history of Chelsea and fans have every right to question the board’s decision as Pulisic continues to split opinions.
Were Chelsea right to invest a significant amount of money in Pulisic?
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