Dallas sign Flowers, 15, in pre-arranged deal with Chelsea
Sources briefed on the deal told The Athletic that Dallas will bank an initial fee of around $3million (£2.25m), with performance-related add-ons capable of pushing the total value beyond $10million.
Some of those add-ons can be triggered before Flowers even leaves Texas, tied to how much first-team football he plays for Dallas and to milestones he reaches with United States youth national teams, while Dallas will also retain a sell-on percentage on any future transfer.
Flowers travelled to London recently to finalise his side of the arrangement with Chelsea.
FC Dallas president Dan Hunt described the signing as another proud moment for the club’s academy system.
“Our commitment has always been to develop young players and provide them with a clear pathway to the professional game. Benji has embraced every step of that journey through hard work, determination and the support of his family.”
Chief soccer officer Andre Zanotta added that Flowers had “earned this opportunity through his work ethic, commitment and the support of his family,” calling the milestone an important one for both player and club.
Flowers joined the FC Dallas academy in 2021 at the age of 10 and made his senior bow for the club’s MLS Next Pro side, North Texas SC, in March at just 14 years and 11 months old – only the second-youngest debutant in that team’s history.
He has represented the United States up to Under-15 level and was named to the MLS Next All-Star Game last month. His homegrown contract with Dallas runs through the 2030-31 season, with a club option for a further year.
The structure mirrors the pre-arranged deal that saw Philadelphia Union agree to sell teenager Cavan Sullivan to Manchester City for a fee that could reach up to $5million once he turned 18 – though depending on how Flowers’ add-ons play out, this agreement has the potential to significantly surpass that valuation, underlining the growing willingness of Europe’s biggest clubs to invest early in American academy talent.
Dallas’ own academy has a strong track record of producing top-level talent, having developed the likes of Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, Ricardo Pepi and Tanner Tessmann in recent years.
