After just a week of anticipation and links, it has been confirmed that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is now a Chelsea player.
A player with huge amounts of ability and further potential, in this article we will dig deep into the qualities the Englishman possesses and how he will fit in a transitioning Chelsea side.
Key to gaining promotion back into the Premier League, Dewsbury-Hall has been one of Leicester City's most important players over the years amidst other stars leaving the club.
Leicester fans have witnessed the departures of Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and N'Golo Kante. All three of whom went on to join Chelsea and now endure another who joins the list.
Introducing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to the Chelsea family! pic.twitter.com/u8Y4F386l0
- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 2, 2024 Dewsbury-Hall however, may prove to be the one that hurts Foxes fans the most, considering he had come through from the youth academy and stayed loyal during dark periods the club have had to endure.
Albeit an exciting transfer considering his price tag (PS30m) and ability, there have been some doubts in regards to where the Englishman will fit into the side.
A player who will compete amongst the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez - questions will continue to be posed in regards to the amount of game time the new signing will receive.
In his media announcement revealed on the club website, Dewsbury-Hall said 'I want to play as many games as I can and try to help the team as much as possible. That is imperative to me'.
Joining the West London side for a deal agreed for PS30m, does Dewsbury-Hall's ability match up to the money spent?
Whilst mainly featuring on the left side of midfield for Leicester as a box-to-box midfielder, it is evident that the 25 year-old has the versatility to play behind the striker as a 10 when required upon.
Pros: Dewsbury-Hall has an aura of elegance when driving with the ball in and around the opposition box, similarly to Cole Palmer. The creativity, let alone ball retention on the ball which instantly raises the technical floor of the squad.
Blues fans will get used to the sight of seeing Dewsbury Hall drift and arrive into the left half-space where he can cause ridiculous amounts of damage - picking up goals and assists.
Unlike majority of playmakers in the Premier League, end product certainly isn't an area of weakness for the Englishman.
12 goals and 14 assists last season in the Championship only emphasises the lack of reluctance that the midfielder possesses when gliding in the opposition half. In essence, a huge asset that lacks from PS200m duo in Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
DONE DEAL: Chelsea have signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on a six-year deal from Leicester City for a reported PS30m fee.
KDH won possession in the final third more times than any other player during the 2023/24 Championship season and was one of three players to score 10+ goals and... pic.twitter.com/YY2yxAlAlu
- Squawka (@Squawka) July 2, 2024 Cons: Whilst possessing standout qualities on the ball, concerns may rise in regards to the physical capacity of the 25 year-old which could be exposed further in a Chelsea side that may take plenty of time to click as a collective unit.
It remains likely that Conor Gallagher will not predominantly feature in Chelsea's midfield next season and that will come at a loss of tremendous work rate in the middle of the park.
Whether Dewsbury-Hall can mould his game to become a player who can be relied upon out of possession remains to be seen. Enzo Maresca will have been the first man aware of the new signings' weaknesses.
Overall, we're looking at a player whose positives far outweigh the negatives. It is clear to see why the move makes sense; a player who already bathes in the fundamentals of Enzo Maresca's footballing style.
Thus the transition to becoming a cohesive attacking side will be made smoother, due to the familiarity Dewsbury-Hall will bring to an ever-changing Chelsea side.
Where he fits in: Maresca's tendency to deploy a 4-3-3 for majority of the 2023/24 season suggests the same system will be imposed at Chelsea. Dewsbury-Hall as stated earlier in the piece, will mainly feature on the left side of midfield where he can make blind sided runs and overlaps for the left winger.
The playmaker has also showed to cause as much damage playing in the number ten role behind striker - a tactical tweak Enzo Maresca could look to enforce at times next season.
Renowned as also a team leader and endurable player, Dewsbury-Hall's defensive work rate could also prove to be pivotal playing alongside the holding midfielder.
At Leicester, his defensive abilities were huge in partnership with Harry Winks who would act as a deep-lying playmaker. At Chelsea, it may well be Enzo Fernandez who will need defensive cover in defensive transitions.
An exciting transfer for both parties, Leicester fans have presented frustration in regards to receiving just PS30m for the player.
In return, Chelsea have got a player who will offer a different dimension to a midfield still looking to find its feet.