Michael Golding will go to the King Power Stadium in a £5 million deal, apart from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s While Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, one of the top players developed by Leicester City’s academy in recent years, leaves, the club will welcome a prodigy from Chelsea’s development ranks in his place. In a separate £5 million agreement, Michael Golding will go to the King Power Stadium and become the club’s first signing of the summer. But, who is the 18-year-old midfielder? We took a deeper look at the teenager and where he could fit in at King Power Stadium. Who is Michael Golding?
It wouldn’t be surprising if Golding’s name hadn’t been on City fans’ radars until this weekend. As things stand, he’s a hot prospect on the verge of breaking through, but has yet to establish himself as a senior player. He has only appeared once for the Chelsea first team, coming off the bench in an FA Cup match against Preston at the start of the year. However, doing so as a 17-year-old (he turned 18 at the end of May) distinguishes him as one to watch in the future.
Golding was only promoted from Chelsea’s under-18s to their under-21s last summer, scoring once and assisting four times in 13 appearances across Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy. He accomplished enough to capture Maurcio Pochettino’s attention at the time, and he has also spent time in England’s junior system. He represented England under-17s at the World Cup at the end of last year. Since then, he’s progressed to the under-18s and captained them in the spring. How does he play?
He’s a forward-thinking midfielder who plays as a number eight or right behind a striker. He’s been commended for his ability to break out of his own half, carrying the ball with good speed and close control. He appears to have some silky abilities in his locker and a keen eye for a pass. He’s been praised for his work ethic, and despite his age, he possesses the physical stature to impose himself, or at the very least hold off opponents who try to steal the ball from him. His leadership abilities, as captain of Chelsea and England at various age levels, have also been acknowledged. What have they said about him?
Many observers, including journalists and supporters, have predicted huge things for Golding. However, his coworkers’ opinions may be more important. Chelsea’s under-18s coach, Hassan Sulaiman, said of Golding just before the Under-17 World Cup last winter: “A central attacking midfielder, Michael thrives in tight areas, demonstrating the technical ability that distinguishes him.” He can stretch opponents with his runs and movement, and he is a confident goal scorer and assister.
“A consistent presence in previous England camps, Michael is a strong contender to take the captain’s armband at the tournament because of his leadership qualities.” How will he blend in with City? It feels premature to claim he will be a direct replacement for Dewsbury-Hall. Given his lack of experience, even at the under-21 level, it appears that Golding will be sent to the club’s development team for the coming season.
However, City are currently low on midfielders, so he might get a look-in during preseason and possibly impress Steve Cooper. The incoming manager’s association with England’s development setup, as well as his reputation for believing in and developing young players, should make him eager to analyze Golding’s credentials.
