Chelsea set to sign Kurt Zouma for £12.5m

By on January 30, 2014

Chelsea are set to complete the signing of St Etienne starlet Kurt Zouma for £12.5 million as a potential replacement for the aging John Terry in the heart of The Blues’ defense.  Zouma, who is regarded as one of the best center-backs of the future, will be immediately loaned back to St Etienne as a part of the deal and is expected to rap up Chelsea’s buying spree with the January transfer window coming to a close.

Zouma was described as the “jewel of the academy,” by St Etienne legend Rocheateau and is expected to break into the French national team after Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps regarded the 19-year-old as a potential future captain for the national side.  The brother of Lionel Zouma, a 20-year-old defender for Sochaux, has made 51 appearances for St Etienne since making his professional debut for the Ligue 1 side in 2011 following his graduation from St Etienne’s academy program.  Zouma’s fantastic athleticism has also helped him win 35 caps for France’s national youth sides at the Under-16, U-17, U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels, while his high profile move could hand him his first senior cap for France.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will fit Zouma into his long-term plans with the English club, with the 6 foot 3 inch defender is expected to be a future replacement for veteran John Terry, who’s contract is due to expire in the summer.  The 33-year-old is hoping to sign a two-or-three year contract extension at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea’s policy of only handing players in their thirties one-year contracts means Zouma’s signing could lead to the end of Terry’s Chelsea career.  Yet in the meanwhile the Englishman has enjoyed a fine season so far, and is yet to miss a single minute of Premier League action.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.