Gabriel Slonina

Gabriel Pawel Slonina (Polish: Słonina; born May 15, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Chelsea and the United States national team. [2][3][4]

Gabriel Slonina
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Pawel Slonina
Date of birth (2004-05-15) May 15, 2004
Place of birth Addison, Illinois, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 36
Youth career
2013–2020 Chicago Fire
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Chicago Fire 34 (0)
2022– Chelsea 0 (0)
2022–2023 → Chicago Fire (loan) 9 (0)
International career‡
2019 United States U15 3 (0)
2019–2020 United States U16 2 (0)
2019–2020 United States U17 2 (0)
2021– United States U20 5 (0)
2023– United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 17, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 25, 2023

In 2023 Slonina was the only goalkeeper included on Goal's NXGN list of the 50 best young players.[2]

Club career

Chicago Fire

Born in Addison, Illinois, Slonina joined the youth academy of Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in 2013.[5] On March 8, 2019, Slonina signed a professional homegrown player contract with the club. At the age of 14, Slonina became the second youngest signing in Major League Soccer history and the youngest signing ever for the Chicago Fire.[5]

On August 4, 2021, Slonina made his professional debut for the Chicago Fire against New York City FC, becoming the youngest starting goalkeeper in league history at 17 years, 81 days.[6] Slonina made four saves for the Fire as the match ended in a 0–0 draw which made him the youngest goalkeeper to record a clean sheet in Major League Soccer history.[7][8]

Chelsea

On August 2, 2022, Slonina signed for Premier League club Chelsea for a transfer fee of $10 million, potentially rising to $15 million with add-ons.[9]

Loan to Chicago Fire

Slonina remained with the Chicago Fire on loan to complete the remainder of the MLS season, before joining Chelsea on January 1, 2023.[9][10]

Return to Chelsea

Slonina made his debut in a Chelsea shirt for the under-21 team in a Professional Development League match vs. Wolves on January 13, 2023.[11]

International career

Slonina has represented the United States at the under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-20 levels.[12][13] Slonina was called into camp for the United States senior team in December 2021 but did not feature in a match.[14] On January 21, 2022, Slonina was called into a World Cup Qualifying camp with the United States senior team but again did not feature in a match.[15] On May 17, he was called up to the Polish senior team by coach Czesław Michniewicz for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Wales, Belgium and the Netherlands.[16] Three days later, Slonina rejected the call-up and declared his wish to represent United States on international level.[17] On January 25, 2023, Slonina became the youngest-ever goalkeeper to play for the United States senior team, making several saves in a 2-1 loss to Serbia.[18]

Personal life

Born in the United States, he is of Polish descent and was eligible to represent the United States or Poland internationally.[19][20][21]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played September 17, 2022[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chicago Fire 2021 Major League Soccer 110————110
2022 Major League Soccer 320————320
Total 430————430
Chelsea 2022–23 Premier League 00———–00
Career total 43000000000430

    International
    As of match played January 25, 2023[23]
    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    United States 202310
    Total10

    References
    1. "Gabriel Slonina". Chicago Fire FC. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
    2. "NXGN 2023: The 50 best wonderkids in football | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
    3. "FIFA 23 best young goalkeepers: The top 30 GKs on Career Mode | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
    4. Ruthven, Graham (June 13, 2022). "Gaga Slonina: why the US teenager is prized by some of Europe's top clubs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
    5. Mikula, Jeremy (March 8, 2019). "Fire sign 14-year-old goalie Gabriel Slonina of Addison – the youngest pro contract in MLS since Freddy Adu". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    6. Sandalow, Brian (August 4, 2021). "As Fire negotiate Frankowski transfer, 17-year-old Slonina debuts in tie with NYCFC". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    7. "17-year-old Slonina has 4 saves, Fire ties NYCFC 0-0". Hastings Tribune. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    8. "Gabriel Slonina Reflects on Becoming the Youngest Goalkeeper in MLS History to Start a Match". Chicago Fire FC. August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
    9. "Chelsea sign young goalkeeper Slonina". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
    10. "Chelsea sign Slonina from Chicago Fire". ESPN. August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
    11. "Chelsea U21 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 Match Report – Friday January 13, 2023". FBref.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
    12. West, Phil (August 5, 2021). "Remember the name: Fire's Gabriel Slonina becomes youngest starting goalkeeper in MLS history". Major League Soccer. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
    13. "Spain U17 2–1 United States U17". Soccerway.
    14. "USMNT Newbies: Meet the First-Time Players at December Camp". ussoccer.com. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
    15. "Berhalter Calls 28 Players to Columbus for January World Cup Qualifying Training Camp". ussoccer.com. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
    16. "Kim jest Gabriel Slonina? Rewelacyjny 18-latek dostał powołanie do reprezentacji Polski". sport.pl (in Polish). Retrieved May 17, 2022.
    17. "Gabriel Slonina announces decision to represent U.S. Men's National Team on international level". Chicago Fire FC. May 20, 2022.
    18. "USMNT falls to Serbia in 2023 opener". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
    19. "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Signs Academy Product Gabriel Slonina". Chicago Fire FC. August 5, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
    20. "Q&A | Nicholas Slonina talks homegrown contract, sibling rivalry, and Polish heritage". Chicago Fire FC. August 5, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
    21. mlssoccer. "USMNT or Poland? Chicago Fire GK Gaga Slonina attracting international attention | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
    22. Gabriel Slonina at Soccerway
    23. Gabriel Slonina at National-Football-Teams.com
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