Chelsea have over 20 players on loan to various clubs around Europe and Brazil, including perennial loanees Lucas Piazon, Charly Musonda and Victor Moses.
But what about the younger players who are fresh out of Chelsea’s academy? That is who we look at here.
Conor Gallagher
On Loan at: Swansea City – EFL Championship
Gallagher started the 2019/20 season on loan to newly-promoted Championship side Charlton Athletic before being recalled in the January window. A day later, he was sent back out on loan to Swansea City.
The 2018/19 Chelsea Academy Player of the Year is a diverse central midfielder. Capable of playing defensive, holding and attacking roles.
In his half-season at Charlton, Gallagher made 26 appearances out of a possible 27 and scored 6 goals.
Since joining Swansea, he has started in all of his 10 appearances.
His performances on loan have also earned him a call up to the England U21 team to go with his U17-U20 appearances.
Now 20 years old, Gallagher has trained with Lampard’s squad in between his loan spells and impressed. So it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him feature for Chelsea, or at least somewhere in the Premier League from next season.
Marc Guehi
On Loan at: Swansea City – EFL Championship
Also at Swansea is the Ivorian born, English youth International, Marc Guehi. Like Conor Gallagher, Guehi joined the Swans in January.
Having been in Chelsea’s academy since 2007, this is Guehi’s first loan spell away from the club.
Guehi has made his senior debut for Chelsea, featuring in 2 Carabao Cup matches.
Since being at Swansea, Guehi has started at centre back in all 5 of his appearances, including the match against Queens Park Rangers which resulted in Swansea’s only clean sheet of February.
A promising talent from early on, Guehi made 21 appearances for England’s U17 team and scored in the final of the successful 2017 U17 World Cup.
Guehi’s loan lasts until July 2021, by which time he’ll be 21. If he can cement his spot in Swansea’s matchday squad, he could be a real chance at earning minutes for Chelsea on his return.
Ethan Ampadu
On Loan at: RB Leipzig – Bundesliga
Ampadu joined Chelsea from Exeter in 2017 and made his Chelsea debut under Antonio Conte soon after. In doing so he became the first player born in the 21st century to play for the club.
After that, Ampadu was limited to playing PL2.
Ampadu has been somewhat more successful in National football. Already playing 13 times for Wales’ senior team.
Despite his struggles in club football, he was set the difficult task of going on loan to the 3rd placed side from last season’s Bundesliga.
Ampadu had only featured 3 times in a strong side before a back injury in February kept him sidelined until the league was postponed.
As per Inside Futbol, it is believed that Ampadu will not go back to complete his loan at Leipzig if the season restarts.
Ampadu will still only be 19 when the 2020/21 season is due to start, meaning there is plenty of time for him to make good on the promise he’s shown.
Dujon Sterling
On Loan at: Wigan Athletic – EFL Championship
Following a successful loan at League One side Coventry City in 2018/19, Sterling was rewarded with a loan to Championship side Wigan Athletic.
Sterling was building some momentum with 6 consecutive matches through November and December.
Unfortunately for Sterling, a hamstring injury halted his progress before the league was postponed.
A naturally attacking right back, Sterling will be in direct competition with Reece James for the spot behind César Azpilicueta in the pecking order when he returns to Chelsea.
George McEachran
On Loan at: SC Cambuur – Eerste Divisie
A familiar name to Chelsea fans, George McEachran is Josh McEachran’s younger brother.
McEachran has been in Chelsea’s academy since 2009 and has progressed up to the PL2 team.
After 14 appearances in Chelsea’s PL2 team at the start of the 2019/20 season, McEachran was sent on his first loan in January.
Since joining SC Cambuur, McEachran has made 2 substitute appearances.
Trevoh Chalobah
On Loan at: Huddersfield Town – EFL Championship
Another familiar name to Chelsea fans. Trevoh Chalobah is the younger brother of Watford defender and Chelsea academy graduate Nathaniel Chalobah.
Chalobah featured 43 times for Ipswich Town in 2018/19 when they were relegated from the Championship.
So far this season, Chalobah had made 28 appearances and scored 1 goal for Huddersfield Town.
In the final article in this series, we look at the standouts in Chelsea’s U18 squad.
