USMNT defender Antonee Robinson linked with Chelsea move

One of the most consistent players for the United States has been Antonee Robinson, who has also become an undisputed starter on the left for side Fulham. Given his success, some argue he is ready to go one step further in his development, and now links to Premier League side Chelsea have emerged.

The 26-year-old is a reliable player when it comes to defending, all while possessing a strong desire to attack; his high level of performance was also recently praised by Pep Guardiola, who referred to him as an extremely interesting player.

According to sources consulted by the media outlet GiveMeSport, The Blues are “seriously” thinking about going in for the player over the summer, where he would compete for the position with Ben Chilwell and cause Levi Colwill to fight for his place at centre-back. For this move to happen, however, Chelsea would need to offload players due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, with Marc Cucurella the likeliest exit.

How much would Antonee Robinson cost Chelsea?

The report indicates that Chelsea would be willing to pay around £35 million ($45m). It should also be remembered that Robinson has a contract with Fulham until 2028, but making the move to a ‘bigger’ club in England - despite Fulham being just one point behind Chelsea, who are struggling in mid-table - would be a huge opportunity in his career, especially given that the 2026 World Cup, a target for him, is set to be held in North America.

Although the report details that Manchester United could also be interested in him, the arrival of Tyrell Malacia and the standing of Luke Shaw in the squad make a deal more complicated. Added to the mix are the players’ contracts: Malacia is under contract until 2026 and Shaw’s deal expires in 2027.

While preparations for the Copa América 2024 are well underway, the USMNT has the task of the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four, where Robinson is one of the most in-form players of the squad. Heading into the semifinal against Jamaica (Thursday March 21, 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT.), the winger noted: “Every time we play for a trophy, it means something. I want to keep on winning this trophy. I want us to win it to the point where it gets boring for people to watch us keep on winning it.”

“We always focus on the bigger picture, we know that the bigger picture is the next World Cup, but obviously we have many steps until then. We have the Nations League and then Copa América, which is probably the second most important tournament after the World Cup,” Robinson told SBI Soccer.