Chelsea have completed the signing of the highly-rated teenage forward Omari Hutchinson from Arsenal.
The gifted winger has represented England at youth level, but made his senior international debut for Jamaica in a friendly against Catalonia in May of this year.
Head of Chelsea’s youth recruitment Jim Fraser said: ‘We are delighted that Omari has agreed to sign for Chelsea. He is a brilliant addition who joins us as an exciting emerging talent hoping to make a quick impression in the senior game.’
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The 18-year-old winger regularly featured as a member of the first team squad last season and was an unused substitute several occasions during the run-in as Mikel Arteta’s squad was stretched to the limit by injuries and suspensions.
Arsenal have promoted a number of Hale End graduates into the first team over the course of Arteta’s reign, and Hutchinson was expected to follow the path trodden by the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Hutchinson featured in the behind closed doors friendly against Ipswich earlier this month but didn’t travel with squad which flew to Germany last week for the 5-3 win over Nurnberg.
The Jamaica international was also left out of the squad which flew to America earlier this week and has now signed a long-term contract with Arsenal’s London rivals.
Chelsea have so far focused their efforts on strengthening a first team squad that has lost defensive stalwarts Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen already during the close season.
The Blues have now completed the signing of Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, but a deal for Nathan Ake has collapsed with Chelsea unwilling to meet Manchester City’s asking price.
Following that setback, Chelsea are expected to go back in for Jules Kounde who came close to moving to Stamford Bridge from Sevilla last summer.
Chelsea strengthened their forward line earlier this week by completing the signing of Raheem Sterling from City but are unlikely to make further additions to their attack.
Talks between owner Thomas Tuchel and Todd Boehly took place earlier this week, but the pair came to the conclusion that they would resist the temptation of making an attempt to sign wantaway Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chelsea do, however, intend to bolster their squad with a number of talented youngsters but Tuchel is adamant further senior recruits are required if his team is to compete with City and Liverpool next season.
‘The stakes are high and we’re competing not only against the best teams who have ever played in the Premier League but also the best coaches,’ said Tuchel.
‘We come from sanctions, we come from losing top-quality players, key players, we are a club in transition, in transition of ownership.
