Leon Bailey has been on Chelsea’s radar for the past two seasons and according to fresh reports, the highly-rated midfielder has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this summer. Frank Lampard is a huge admirer of the pacy winger/forward and he is seen as a possible replacement for Willian whose future at the club appears to be uncertain at the moment.
Manchester United, Arsenal and other Premier League clubs are also eyeing Leon Bailey but the Bayern Leverkusen winger still has three years left on his contract and he remains a vital player for the German side as he was on the score sheet as Bayern Leverkusen thrashed Rangers 3-1 in the Europa League at the Ibrox Stadium.
Who is Leon Bailey and why is Chelsea so keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge this summer?
- Leon Patrick Bailey was born in the coastal city of Kingston, Jamaica on August 9th, 1997.
- He started his career at Phoenix All-Stars Academy managed by his adopted father Craig Butler
- Bailey signed his first professional contract at 18 with AS Trencin FC after he spent some months with Genk in Belgium but couldn’t sign a contract due to work permit.
- He finally signed for Genk in 2015 and scored on his debut against Truiden in a 3-1 win.
- His impressive start to life at Genk earned him the club’s young player of the year award at the end of the 2015-2016 season.
- Bailey joined Bayern Leverkusen in 2017 for 20 million Euros and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 win over Karlshruer in the German cup.
- Leon Bailey is a very close friend of Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi. They both played together in the Champions League and Europa League at Genk. Even though Ndidi left the club in 2017 both players still share time together off the pitch.
- 8. Bailey is skillful, nimble and he can play across the forward line either on the right or left even though he is a winger.
- 9. He has 24 goals in 105 career appearances for the German Bundesliga side: Bayern Leverkusen since joining in the 2016-2017 season.
- 10. Bailey is also friends with Olympic legend Usain Bolt and admires the sprinter a lot for his achievements as well as his personality: “I would say we’re really, really close,” Bailey said. “He’s been a friend of mine for a couple of years now. He’s teaching me a lot of things in life because he’s experienced. Of course, he’s a legend. To have somebody like that around you and to share that experience with you, it’s such a good feeling.
- “As a young individual who probably or possibly will get to that level, it’s important that you understand what it all comes with from a very early stage. I think he’s helped me a little bit with that too. He’s a great guy and a fun person to be around. He’s just a cool guy!”
