Caleb Wiley's soccer career is just beginning
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Caleb Wiley plays in the match against Morocco at the Paris Olympics last Friday. Photo: John Todd/ISI/Getty Images
The Paris Olympics are over for the United States men's soccer team, but for Atlanta's Caleb Wiley, international stardom is just beginning.
Why it matters: Atlanta United's 19-year-old defender just joined the English football league's Chelsea F.C. for nearly $11 million.
- CBS Sports reports Wiley is expected to spend the 2024-25 season on loan at Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg to obtain more experience during his six-year contract.
Catch up quick: Wiley played for the USMNT at the 2024 Olympics, where the team advanced to the knockout round for the first time in more than two decades.
- The USMNT then lost against Morocco 4-0 last Friday.
Between the lines: Axios spoke with Matt Lawrey, assistant coach for Atlanta United and the club's former academy director, to better understand Wiley's passion for soccer.
Flashback: Lawrey says he and Wiley started at the academy at the same time in August 2016. Wiley was about 10 or 11, but Lawrey says Wiley's eyes were "locked in" from day one.
- "He was one of the hardest working players and eventually, that created talent," Lawrey says.
- Wiley strived "to get better every single day, and he was going to take every opportunity to do so," Lawrey added.
Stunning stat: Wiley became the youngest player in Atlanta United's history when he first played for the team in 2020 at 15.
- Lawrey says Wiley always came back from season breaks "better than he was before."
- "He was the one that was finding a way to the park on Sunday afternoons when everyone else was resting. He was the one that was training when no one else was," Lawrey added.
Zoom in: Lawrey calls Wiley a versatile player who can also play as a left-back or a winger.
- Lawrey lauded Wiley's attacking game during the USMNT's 3-0 victory against Guinea in the Olympics.
What's next: Lawrey says Chelsea has a structure in place to ensure young players like Wiley get playing experience.
- "I'm excited for him to earn a starting spot if it's with Strasburg or with Chelsea," Lawrey says. "I really believe that wherever he goes, he's going to make the best of that scenario."
The bottom line: Expect Wiley to get better as a player while maintaining his humility, Lawrey says.
- "The most exciting thing is not who he is currently, but knowing his character, knowing his work ethic, and how much he's going to put into it, it's really exciting to think about what he's like at 21, what he's going to be like at 24, at 25," Lawrey says.
- "I know deep down, he's not going to stop working."