English Premier League club Chelsea have been linked with a move for Flying Eagles’ midfielder, Abduljelil Kamaldeen.
According to a report from the UK online media, The Sun, Chelsea are interested in signing Kamaldeen from the Kwara Football Academy as early as January 2026.
“Chelsea scouts are hot on the trail of a Nigerian wonderkid who looks set to light up the FIFA Under-20 World Cup,” the report read.
“The Blues’ global scouting network has turned its attention to the ongoing tournament in Chile this month, where their focus is on youngsters playing several years above their age group.
“Nigerian midfielder Abduljelil Kamaldeen is understood to be high on their priority list after showing his vast potential as a late substitute in the Flying Eagles’ 1-0 defeat to Norway U-20 on Monday.”
Kamaldeen did not start the game against Norway, but the 16-year-old came on to replace Nasiru Salihu in the 78th minute and flashed his potential during his brief cameo.
Playing against some Norwegians who are close to five years older than him, the teenager almost rescued a point for the Flying Eagles with a late surge into the penalty area.
According to The Sun, Chelsea had earlier got to know about Kamaldeen in May 2025 due to his impressive performances for the Flying Eagles at the WAFU Zone B U-20 Boys Championship in Ghana.
Operating from the left wing throughout the tournament, he produced strong performances in both the semi-finals and final, while also scoring a goal in a crucial 4-1 win over the Benin Republic in Nigeria’s final group game.
Kamaldeen can also operate from a deeper central role, leading many keen observers to view him as a number 10 and eliciting comparisons to Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha and current Premier League star Alex Iwobi.
The Sun added that Chelsea have now sent several scouts to Chile to track his progress, with the Blues’ global scouting network particularly focused on youngsters playing above their age group, such as Kamaldeen.
