In a startling football revelation that bridges politics and sport, it has emerged that former US President Donald Trump attempted to bring American soccer icon Clint Dempsey to Chelsea during his brief involvement with the club.
The extraordinary claim comes from Dempsey himself, who revealed that Trump - during his 1980s exploration of English football investment - personally pushed for the transfer while negotiating to purchase shares in the West London club.
The American Dream at Stamford Bridge
Dempsey, who became a cult hero at Fulham between 2007-2012, told The Athletic: "Trump was trying to buy a percentage of Chelsea and wanted me to go there. He was talking about how he was going to buy a piece of the team."
The former US international, known for his combative midfield play, ultimately remained at Craven Cottage where he became the first American to score a Premier League hat-trick.
Trump's Football Fantasy
Trump's Chelsea ambitions date back to the late 1980s when he explored purchasing a stake in the then-struggling club. While his ownership dreams never materialised, the episode reveals an intriguing 'what if' scenario in football history.
Football historians note that had Trump succeeded, it might have accelerated American investment in English football by decades. The Chelsea approach predates the Glazer family's Manchester United takeover by nearly 20 years.
Dempsey's Premier League Legacy
The Texas-born midfielder remains one of the most successful American exports to the Premier League, scoring 57 goals in 218 appearances for Fulham and Tottenham. His potential move to Chelsea could have rewritten the history of US players in England's top flight.
Dempsey's revelation adds another fascinating layer to the complex relationship between American investors and English football - a trend that continues to shape the modern game.
