Chelsea sign Nigeria-eligible teenage fullback Yisa Alao from Sheffield Wednesday

ENGLISH Premier league giants Chelsea have signed Nigeria-eligible teenage fullback Yisa Alao from Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on a two-and-half year contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2028.

Alao, 17, has been with Sheffield Wednesday for the last decade since joining the club’s academy at U7 level, steadily progressing through the age ranks. A highly promising leftback, Alao made his professional debut for Wednesday on August 13 2025, he came off the bench in a cup tie against Bolton Wanderers.

Believed to be of the same quality as Celestine Babayaro, a former Super Eagles leftback who once played for Chelsea, Alao has been in high demand, with Chelsea beating three other clubs to his signature. During the current season, Alao received multiple first-team call-ups and featured across several competitions, including the Championship, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

He made his first senior start in an FA Cup match against Premier League side Brentford, playing for an hour in a 2–0 loss. Alao's performances at youth and senior levels attracted interest from several Premier League clubs before Chelsea finalised the deal.

Born in Doncaster in Yorkshire to parents of Nigerian descent, Alao is eligible to play for both Nigeria and England. This means that at some stage in the future, he will have to choose who to represent at senior level.