adidas, FC Harlem and New York's finest welcome the Premier League champions to the Big Apple with a special 2vs2 freestyle event in one of the city's liveliest neighbourhoods.
After touching down in New York City ahead of their pre-season fixture against the New York Red Bulls, Chelsea players Diego Costa, Oscar, Gary Cahill, César Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard were given a raucous welcome by members of the FC Harlem community - an initiative aimed at helping local players from under privileged backgrounds - as they joined local soccer influencers at a freestyle event hosted by adidas and the F2 Freestylers.
Two on two battles wearing the new home and away Chelsea kits were showcased in front of the players who have arrived in the city on the latest leg of their pre-season tour to face the New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, before heading to the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina to face PSG on Saturday.
FC Harlem continues to draw stares in the neighbourhood and has garnered an unusually high profile for a neighborhood youth sports program. Chelsea have worked with the Harlem foundation since 2013, while in 2008 David Beckham famously participated in an MLS-sponsored clinic for Harlem Youth Soccer.