Chelsea have joined the growing list of admirers chasing FC Twente’s highly-rated young defender Ruud Nijstad.
Chelsea Join Manchester City in Race to Sign FC Twente Starlet Ruud Nijstad
According to TEAMtalk, the Blues are now actively working on a deal to bring the 18-year-old to Stamford Bridge.
The Dutch centre-back represents the latest breakthrough talent from Twente’s renowned academy.
This production line has previously produced stars like Tijjani Reijnders at Manchester City, Mats Wieffer at Brighton, and Steven Berghuis at Ajax.
Nijstad first announced himself on the professional stage last October. At just 17 years old, he came off the bench against Heracles Almelo to help secure a 2-1 victory.
Just two weeks later, the youngster earned his first start, playing the full 90 minutes in an entertaining 3-3 draw away at NEC Nijmegen.
Nijstad fits the mold of the modern physical defender. He has already made 13 appearances across all competitions this season for John van den Brom’s side.
His composure on the ball and dominance in aerial duels have caught the attention of clubs across Europe.
Chelsea now face stiff competition for his signature. Manchester City are also pushing hard, with both Premier League giants viewing their multiclub models as a potential pathway to secure the deal.
Barcelona had previously led the chase but reportedly balked at Twente’s £8 million valuation, allowing English clubs to move ahead in the pecking order.
Other interested parties include Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Premier League sides Tottenham, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brighton, and Brentford.
Twente are eager to extend Nijstad’s contract, which currently runs until 2027, but face an uphill battle to keep him.
While Chelsea possess a wealth of young defensive talent at both Cobham and sister club Strasbourg, the opportunity to secure one of the Eredivisie’s brightest prospects appears too good to ignore.
However, any move would likely see Nijstad viewed as a long-term project rather than an immediate solution for the first team.
