Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina says he's determined to be in the best shape possible before joining Chelsea in January.

Slonina was signed in the summer before being loaned back to Chicago Fire for the remainder of the MLS season.

Edouard Mendy contacted Slonina on social media to congratulate him on his move. Ultimately, Mendy will be the benchmark for Slonina, who wants to go right to the very top.

He could yet be called up to the America squad for the World Cup and has two more matches in the MLS before he joins Chelsea. From there, the Blues will assess whether he joins Graham Potter's first-team squad or goes back out on loan.

“I am grinding, waking up before the sun rises and going to sleep super early because when I look back at 34 years old, I will thank myself that I did all that," says Slonina to the London Evening Standard.

“I want to leave a good image and representation of myself before I join Chelsea."