TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
Real Madrid, fresh off winning this yearâs UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles, are preparing a bid for Chicago Fire FC homegrown goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, per a report from Fabrizio Romano.
The 18-year-old is regarded as arguably the top goalkeeping prospect worldwide, reportedly earning interest from Premier League side Chelsea earlier this year. Heâs also drawn comparisons to all-time great Gianluigi Buffon.
While Romano didnât specify a proposed transfer fee, itâs striking to see a club of Real Madridâs caliber linked with an MLS-developed player whoâs got a remarkably bright future. As reported by MLSsoccer.comâs Tom Bogert, Slonina may be loaned back to Chicago through the 2023 MLS season should a deal be agreed upon this summer.
Romano's report comes 10 days after Slonina committed his international future to the United States, sharing âmy heart is Americanâ amid heavy recruiting efforts from Poland, his parentsâ home country. He awaits his senior-team debut for the USMNT.
Since becoming Chicagoâs starting goalkeeper late during the 2021 season, Slonina has nine clean sheets across 25 matches. Heâs been a bright spot for the Fire, who are bottom of the 2022 seasonâs Eastern Conference and league tables entering the June international break.
Should Slonina head to Real Madrid, itâd be one of the highest-profile outgoing moves in the history of MLS academies. Based on club destination, others in that ballpark include Alphonso Davies from Vancouver Whitecaps FC to Bayern Munich and Giovanni Reyna from New York City FCâs youth system to Borussia Dortmund.
Slonina would also join several USMNT goalkeepers at some of Europeâs biggest clubs, with Zack Steffen part of Premier League-winning side Manchester City after coming through the Columbus Crew. Meanwhile, Matt Turner will soon join Arsenal after progressing at the New England Revolution.
Real Madridâs starting goalkeeper is Belgian star Thibaut Courtois. In recent years, theyâve also had Spanish all-time great Iker Casillas and Costa Rican legend Keylor Navas between the sticks.