Bright Ede may not yet be a household name, but the 18-year-old Nigerian-born defender is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most talked-about teenage prospects — and two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are already circling, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ede’s meteoric rise began just months ago when he left Polish third-tier side Zaglebie Lubin II in January to join Motor Lublin for a modest €100,000 fee.
Since then, his career has skyrocketed. He made his Ekstraklasa debut earlier this year — scoring on his first appearance — and has gone on to feature in six of Lublin’s final nine matches. It hasn’t taken long for scouts to take notice.
Chelsea, who reportedly met with Ede’s representatives during their recent trip to Wroclaw for the UEFA Conference League final, are currently leading the race for his signature.
Arsenal, however, have also been tracking him closely, seeing the young centre-back as a long-term investment. According to Polish outlet Meczyki (via FotbollTransfers), a transfer as early as this summer is very much on the cards.
Ede, who has also featured for Poland’s U18 national team, is now valued at €11 million — a remarkable 110-fold increase in just six months. If a deal is completed at that price, it could set a new record for the highest sale from the Polish league.
Chelsea’s strategy, as seen with previous youth signings, appears to be clear. Should they land Ede, the club would immediately loan him to Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg — their sister club — following the successful development of players like Andrey Santos there last season.
Strasbourg are expected to lose Mamadou Sarr to Chelsea this summer, opening a perfect slot for Ede to step into.
Observers in Poland describe him as “physically strong” with “excellent vision to build attacks from the back,” but they also caution that his senior experience remains limited. He has yet to reach double figures in professional appearances.
Still, with two Premier League giants showing serious intent, Bright Ede could soon make the leap from Polish football to England’s top flight. Whether he’s ready or not, the future looks dazzlingly bright.