Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier has revealed that Chelsea’s late move for his signature was a reason behind why he rejected the Blues in 2018. Now 21, the Frenchman has been a star for Marcelo Bielsa’s men between the sticks having arrived initially on-loan from Lorient in 2019, before that move was eventually made permanent. However, he could well have arrived in England a year prior with Chelsea having made a move for his signature. In the end, a switch to Stamford Bridge did not come to fruition, with the Blues instead moving for Kepa Arrizabalaga for a record fee following the departure of Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid. Meslier has revealed that the late offer from the Blues made it impossible to depart Lorient.
Illan Meslier said: “Chelsea agreed with Lorient and then asked me, ‘Are you ready?’ But it was 24 hours before the end of the window. I said: ‘No, it’s too late, man! If you’d come one or two weeks earlier then I might have said yes. I can’t sign for you so late.'”
Whilst the logistics of the deal made it impossible for the then 18-year-old to justify a move to west London, he also suggested that he could not see a route through to the first-team at that time.
Illan Meslier continued: “It was a difficult decision. Chelsea are a big club. You would ask me, ‘Why not [go]?’. But there are lots of keepers in Chelsea’s academy,” Meslier continued. It’s very hard to grow up there and sometimes you sign and you have to go on loan, things like that. It’s better, I think, to work in your club and then sign to be a No.1 at 24, 25. Not at 18 years old.”
To date, Meslier has made 46 appearances for Leeds and has kept 18 clean sheets, 11 of those coming in the Premier League last season.
