17-year-old Jamaican star Dujuan 'Whisper' Richards signs with Chelsea

Phoenix Academy and Kingston College standout, Dujuan 'Whisper' Richards is headed to Chelsea Football Club in the English Premier League (EPL).

The announcement of the pre-contract signing was made on Saturday by Phoenix founder Craig Butler on his Instagram page.

“History has been made. The Phoenix All Stars Football Academy is proud to announce that Dujuan 'Whisper' Richards, who has been with us since 12-years-old, has put pen to paper and signed his pre-contract with Chelsea FC in England and will be plying his trade in the Premier League,” Butler said.

“This has been a long road and one that has made us exceptionally proud of his loyalty and undying faith in me and our team at Phoenix. We are grateful to Chelsea Football Club and look forward to the continued relationship and partnership with our academy as we prepare Whisper for the Premier League,” Butler added.

He expressed thanks to all those who believed in Whisper.

“We're proud of the people of Jamaica who believed in Whisper, in Phoenix and in our country's ability to produce if only we are willing to work hard, smart and are committed to excellence," Butler said.

It had been reported that Whisper would have signed with an EPL club this week, following a recent two-week trial at another EPL club, Newcastle.

Now 17 years old, Whisper stood head and shoulders above his peers in the recently concluded schoolboy football season where he scored more than 30 goals for Kingston College. It had been rumoured all season that he was on his way to Europe.

He recently earned his first call-up for the national senior team and is expected to join the Reggae Boyz later today for the first of two friendly internationals against Trinidad and Tobago at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.

The second match will take place on Tuesday inside the National Stadium in Kingston.

He will become the second Phoenix Academy player to ply his trade in the EPL after Leon Bailey who plays for Aston Villa in England's top division.