Chelsea confirm late summer transfer as midfield backup plan takes shape for Enzo Maresca

Chelsea have planned for Enzo Maresca's future midfield (Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Chelsea have confirmed that academy midfielder Kiano Dyer has signed a new long-term contract at the club. Dyer, 18, has also completed a loan move to Volendam in Holland.

In leaving Cobham, Dyer has become the second youngest player on loan. He is just six months older than Kendry Paez, who joined RC Strasbourg earlier in the summer.

Dyer made his senior debut for Chelsea last season in the Conference League. He has also been named on the bench in the Premier League, although that was in May 2024 under Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea do not have to count Dyer as part of their international loan spots because he has spent enough time in their youth system. He moved from West Brom as an Under-14 in 2022.

Since then, Dyer has continued to prove himself to be one of the brightest academy players in his position in the country. He has been capped at age-group level by England from Under-16s all the way through to Under-19s, where he currently sits.

Not only has Dyer committed himself to Chelsea but his contract now runs until 2030. He is one of a growing number of teenage players to sign onto long-term deals following Shumaira Mheuka , Josh Acheampong , and Ishe Samuels-Smith in the past year.

Samuels-Smith did leave Chelsea earlier in the window on a permanent move to Strasbourg but has since returned . He is instead at Swansea City on loan.

Dyer has been given a different path and will play in Eredivisie. Chelsea had previously used the league to help develop players but it is less common than when compared with Roman Abramovich's tenure as owner.

Vitesse Arnhem became a regular source of senior minutes for Chelsea hopefuls to work their way into the men's game. Mason Mount is one of many to have cut his teeth there.

Dyer now goes out with an impressive track record in Premier League 2 and Under-21s football behind him. Despite his slight stature, Dyer is a ball-playing midfielder capable of dictating games from deep or having an impact in the final third.

He played 16 PL2 matches last season, scoring twice and assisting four. He has two years of Development Squad experience after making the step up from Under-18 football at just 16.

Dyer will not turn 19 until November and has a period of adaptation over the international break, having not gone away with the England Under-19s. Chelsea will hope to see him continue to grow over the coming season.

They have invested heavily in midfield, spending over £250million on Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Romeo Lavia. Andrey Santos and Dario Essugo are also in the mix.