During the next two and a half weeks, Caleb Wiley’s top goal is to win an Olympic medal in Paris. The American defender is already set to join Chelsea in the Premier League, but he has his sights set on another goal.
“We’re going to fight for a medal,” Wiley stated to The Associated Press. “And I have full belief that we’re going to do it.” The men’s team from the United States will compete in an Olympic game for the first time since 2008. On Wednesday, it will play host and tournament favorite France in Marseille.
After completing his $11 million transfer from Atlanta United FC to the two-time Champions League winner on Monday, the 19-year-old Wiley is expected to get more attention from Chelsea supporters, at the very least.
As the United States is ready to return to the Olympics, the left-back claimed he has been besieged with messages since the announcement and has not been able to respond to them all. But while the trade was being worked out, months after he was first aware of Chelsea’s interest, he claimed that the Olympics had helped divert his attention from the biggest move of his career rather than detracting from the Games.
“I think for me the most important thing was staying present. It’s been an ongoing thing for a while now, for a few months,” Wiley said. “Just knowing where I was, staying focused with Atlanta at the time and then now with the Olympics has helped me kind of just be in the moment.
“I think it’s important to, to enjoy it first. You know this doesn’t happen to too many kids and so I think [you need] to embrace the feeling.”
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.