Gabriel Slonina to train with Chelsea this week; long-term future still undecided
By Chris Smith
Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina is set to depart for London this week for a short training stint with his new club, 90min understands.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months, becoming the Chicago Fire's number one and making a string of impressive displays despite his tender years - drawing comparisons to the legendary Gianluigi Buffon.
During the 2022 MLS season, where he remained on loan with the Fire even following his $10m move to Chelsea, Slonina kept 12 clean sheets, with only NYCFC's Sean Johnson (14) and Philadelphia Union's Andre Blake (15) keeping more.
Slonina's loan is set to expire in January but before then, he'll depart for Chelsea's Cobham facility for a 10-15-day training stint, where he'll begin to get to know his new teammates. Slonina will then return to the United States for a USMNT training camp designed to keep domestic-based players fit and ready for the Stars and Stripes' World Cup campaign.
I'm told Gabriel Slonina will depart for Chelsea tomorrow for a short training stint. 10-15 days.
— Chris Smith (@CJSmith91) October 9, 2022
He'll then return to the United States 🇺🇸 #USMNT pic.twitter.com/vYrAcWyAOt
Slonina faces a battle against the likes of Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath, and Sean Johnson to make Gregg Berhalter's World Cup roster. The teenager was left out of the group for a recent friendly double-header against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
What next for Gabriel Slonina?
Slonina's long-term future beyond December remains up in the air.
At present, he is due to officially join up with Chelsea in January, once his loan with the Fire ends. However, there is a chance he could return to Soldier Field once again for 2023, with sources telling 90min the Chicago Fire have left the ball firmly in Chelsea's court when it comes to another loan with Chicago.
The Fire have their own interests to protect, too, with fellow young goalkeeper Chris Brady, 18, rising through the ranks and awaiting his own breakthrough in MLS.
A separate source has also informed 90min that several English Championship clubs are interested in taking Slonina on loan, while Chelsea are looking for potential destinations across Europe at Europa League and Conference League levels.
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