Chelsea spend £4.5m on Brazil starlet Nathan
PREMIER League champions Chelsea have bolstered their stockpile of talented youngsters by completing the signing of Brazil Under-20 attacking midfielder Nathan.
The 19-year-old, who can also play as a second striker and whose full name is Nathan Allan de Souza, is believed to have cost £4.5m from Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense.
He joins Chelsea at a time when several stars of the club’s all-conquering youth sides, such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Izzy Brown and Dominic Solanke, are pushing to break into the first team.
Nathan could provide further competition for them or, if a work permit proves problematic, instead join the multitude of players sent out on loan from Stamford Bridge, which swelled to 30 this season.
Fellow Brazilian youngster Wallace signed for Chelsea from Fluminense in January 2013 but, following loans at his former club, Inter Milan and Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, to whom the Blues have sent several prospects, he is yet to make his official debut.
Nathan, who caught the eye of European scouts by scoring five goals in five games at the Under-17 World Cup in 2013, said: “I am very happy to be joining Chelsea, the champions of England, and I hope I will be able to learn a lot and develop my game.”