Chelsea have signed 17-year-old Sheffield Wednesday left-back Yisa Alao after beating Manchester United to his signature. Sky Sports says that the Blues have agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship club for an undisclosed amount of money.
It is thought the initial fee is more than £500,000, with many extras that could bring the total to £6 million, depending on how well the player performs. Chelsea beat Manchester United and two other Premier League teams to sign the fullback who can play for Nigeria. Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester City were all interested in signing the teenager, but the west London club acted quickly to get him.
The purchase fits with Chelsea’s current owners’ hiring model. The club have made it a priority to sign top young players who can grow into first-team players over time. Alao is likely to start out with Chelsea’s development squad at Cobham instead of the senior team. However, there is still a clear path to first-team football for talented players at Stamford Bridge.
Before Christmas, Manchester United are said to have made a £450,000 offer for Alao, but Sheffield Wednesday turned it down. It seems that Chelsea were able to step in with a better offer that met the Championship club’s price after that rejection.
Who Is Yisa Alao?
Alao has been with Sheffield Wednesday since he was seven years old and has steadily moved up through the club’s academy. His quick progress earned him a senior debut against Bolton Wanderers in August 2025, marking the start of his time with the first team at Hillsborough. Since then, the teenager has been called up to the first team many times and has played in the Championship, the Carabao Cup, and the FA Cup.
One of his best moments was his first start as a senior player in an FA Cup match against Brentford, a Premier League team. He played for an hour even though Sheffield Wednesday lost 2-0. The performance showed how calm and skilled he is when playing against top-tier teams. Despite the Owls’ problems on and off the field, Alao has played in five games this season.
The wingback can play both defense and offense, giving him tactical flexibility that many Premier League teams liked. His ability to help in both phases of play has been clear in the few first-team games he’s played for Sheffield Wednesday this season.
He recently got his first start in the Championship and did well against Portsmouth, showing maturity beyond his years, despite losing that game.