Transfer Centre

Chelsea monitoring Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 11 August 2022

Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry confirms that Chelsea are keeping an eye on the development of 19-year-old centre-back Ronnie Edwards.

Chelsea are keeping a close eye on Peterborough United defender Ronnie Edwards, according to Posh director of football Barry Fry.

The 19-year-old has attracted the attention of numerous Premier League clubs after making the step-up to first-team football since leaving Barnet's youth academy in the summer of 2020.

Edwards made 38 appearances in all tournaments for Peterborough last season - including 31 starts in the Championship - but he could not prevent Posh from suffering relegation to League One.

The teenager was also a part of England's triumphant Under-19 European Championship squad earlier this summer, playing the full 120 minutes in the 3-1 win over Israel in the final.

Edwards's contract at the Weston Homes Stadium is not due to expire until the summer of 2025, but Fry has confirmed that the Blues are closely monitoring his progress.

Peterborough United's Barry Fry pictured in January 2018 © Reuters

"I've had conversations with people at Chelsea who are in the know and who would be involved in any decision-making," Fry told the Peterborough Telegraph.

"They came to watch Lucas [Bergstrom], but they were taken by Ronnie. They haven't made a bid yet, but there are three weeks until the transfer window closes. They certainly like him.

"Virtually the entire Premier League know about Ronnie and it's interesting to see members of his England Under 19 team attracting attention now. I have had big clubs asking to be kept informed if anyone does bid for Ronnie."

Fry proceeded to lay out the conditions for any potential sale, claiming that a "big bid" will be needed to sign Edwards, and Peterborough would be keen to have the defender loaned straight back to them.

"Our position on Ronnie remains the same. It's going to have to be a big bid to get him and we would try and make sure he was sent straight back to us," Fry added.

"We don't want to break up what I believe is the strongest squad in terms of depth in my 26 years at the club. We've been turning bids down right, left and centre all summer."

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel on August 6, 2022 © Reuters

Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with a move for Edwards, and Fry confirmed back in April that the Lilywhites were also keeping tabs on the youngster's development.

"Spurs have been watching him for a long time, but so have other clubs. There is a big German club showing interest which is no real surprise as they love to take young English players and develop them," Fry explained.

Edwards has played the full 90 minutes in both of Peterborough's opening League One wins this term, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory over Morecambe last Saturday, and he has one assist to boast in 45 games for the club in all tournaments.

Chelsea have already reinforced their defence with the signings of Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, but deals for Jules Kounde, Matthijs de Ligt and Presnel Kimpembe did not materialise.

Thomas Tuchel's side have seemingly shifted their focus away from the defensive third, with recent reports claiming that the Blues are now nearing an agreement over a move for Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.

Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has also been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, which will host Sunday's Premier League London derby between Chelsea and Spurs.