Gabriel Slonina: The hyped 18-year-old Chicago Fire goalkeeper with links to Chelsea – scout report

Chelseas recent takeover by Todd Boehly marks the end of the Roman Abramovich era. But he may not be the only American to join the club this summer.

According to multiple sources, USA youth international goalkeeper, Gabriel Slonina, is heading to London. The deal is seen as imminent with the 18-year-old remaining at his current club, MLS’s Chicago Fire, at least through the end of the 2022 season.

Perhaps the most lauded goalkeeper to come out of America in recent years, Slonina is a dynamic young talent with tremendous upside. This scout report will break down his top qualities, as well as use data to identify his key strengths, and then represent them relative to MLS and EPL goalkeepers. Through tactical analysis, we will look closely at his goalkeeping profile, especially looking at the technical side of his play.

Hes young and a bit raw, but this young American is tabbed for a big career. What does Chelsea have in store? Lets find out.

Slonina in the data

Before looking at in-game images, lets start with his data.

The data profile below gives us his percentile rank relative to other MLS goalkeepers. In the goalkeeping actions section, we get a glimpse of both the raw talent and a young goalkeeper who is still learning the craft. Though he ranks below average in prevented goals this season, his organizational qualities and leadership at the back have greatly benefited the Chicago Fire. Hes among the league leaders in clean sheets which comes down to some of his intangible qualities at the position.

His passing and progression statistics are equally interesting. The Guardian’s analysis praises the 18-year-old for his talent with the ball at his feet. When you look specifically at his efficiency numbers, hes one of the top goalkeepers in the league. Interestingly, the Chicago Fire tactics dont place much of an attacking burden on him. Slonina rates below the median in terms of his passing usage on a P90 basis. Certainly odd given his talent with his feet.

On film, he doesnt give an Ederson-type impression with unlimited range and pinpoint accuracy. Instead, his range is slightly above average and his accuracy is the top feature at his disposal.

Comparing his data to the broader pool of ML