Why Bryan Fiabema looks like a good long-term prospect for Chelsea

According to the Metro, Chelsea have successfully negotiated a deal to acquire the services of Norwegian starlet Bryan Fiabema, who is set to join the Blues officially when the transfer window reopens in January.

Having impressed as a trialist in West London, the 16-year-old forward will join Chelsea from Norwegian club Tromso during the mid-season trading period.

As per the report, Fiabema is expected to join Chelsea’s academy ranks with immediate effect from January, working with Ed Brand and Andy Myers.

Image result for bryan fiabema" — Bryan Fiabema is set to officially join Chelsea in January after impressing on trial (Getty Images)

The 16-year-old has now become Chelsea’s first signing after the removal of transfer ban and Frank Lampard is expected to seek some reinforcements to improve his squad in January. (h/t Metro)

Fiabema made the transition to senior professional football with his boyhood club Tromso back in July, featuring once in the Norwegian Eliteserien.

That remains his only senior involvement to date but the teenage sensation is now set to continue his development with the Blues after they snapped him up following a successful trial.

The 16-year-old, who has also represented Norway at U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels, was held in high regard by the youth coaching staff at Tromso as a player with the potential to go on and ply his trade in some of the top leagues in Europe.

Not a lot is known about the player’s style of play, strengths and weaknesses given that he has only just made his mark in the senior men’s game in the lowly Norwegian league.

However, Fiabema comes through the door at Stamford Bridge as a highly-rated prospect in his homeland and Chelsea will be well within their rights to hold high hopes about him.

To put things into perspective, Bryan Fiabema is still very much in his formative years as a professional footballer but Chelsea have every reason to look at him as one for the future rather than someone who could possibly make an immediate impact.

The fact that he has already started to rub shoulders with the senior pros at the tender age of 16 is clearly indicative of a level of maturity that belies his young age, and Fiabema looks like another exciting addition to the existing pool of burgeoning young talents at Cobham.

Frank Lampard’s willingness to rely on the club’s academy starlets has seen little-known prospects like Ian Maatsen, Marc Guehi and Tino Anjorin get their professional debuts in the EFL Cup this season, while Billy Gilmour has gone one step further to earn his Premier League debut for the Blues.

The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori had all struggled to establish themselves in the first-team at Stamford Bridge until Lampard’s arrival sparked a complete U-turn in the club’s handling of their academy prospects.

Verdict

Mount, Tomori and Abraham have all gone on to earn senior England caps this year, something that testifies the quick progress Chelsea have made in promoting young talents this season.

The process of transition from the academy to the senior ranks is not straightforward in English football, meaning that Fiabema would have to prove his worth at U-18 and U-23 levels before staking a claim for a first-team role at Stamford Bridge.

However, given his obvious talent and vast potential, the Blues will expect him to make a positive impact in the years to come, albeit patience will hold the key to the youngster’s development.

The 16-year-old still has a long way to go in his career and it is clear that he has the raw materials to push on for greater heights in the years to come.

More Chelsea News

All in all, Chelsea completing a move for Bryan Fiabema is yet another indication of their renewed faith in blooding quality young talent and this looks like a move that could pay off handsomely for the Blues moving forward.