Stoke Academy Director Gareth Owen has provided an insight into Chinonso Chibueze after his move from Chelsea, who returned for pre-season training alongside their new teammates on Monday.

Chinonso moved through the age groups at Cobham and made his Under-18s debut during the 2021/22 season having joined the club from the age of ten – but the decision has been made for him to move on.

That allowed Stoke to swoop in and offer the young man a move this summer – and after seeing the deal happen – Stoke Academy Director Gareth Owen has provided an insight into the signing of the young lad

He told the club website: ‘Chinonso arrives from CHELSEA and is a different type of winger to Kieron in that his physical attributes are his big strength.

‘He can play anywhere across the front three and is another arrival where we have had to beat off competition from several clubs and that is a testament to the pathway we can offer him.

‘With Chinonso and Kieron operating in the wide areas, we are excited to have added more firepower to the Under-21s group.’

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Chibueze has been at CHELSEA a very long time and must have believed that he would get his chance to play in that Blues first team one day – so he must be a little disappointed that he was allowed to leave the club.

However – Stoke are a big club that he could thrive in – and he will certainly be given a few more chances in that first-team in the coming seasons if he manages to impress his new coaches.

Chelsea was probably his dream – but this move is his chance to make it in the professional game – great much for the lad.