Ryan Bertrand joined 22 other Chelsea stars on loan when he completed a season-long move to Aston Villa today. We rate all the Blues loan stars, including Romelu Lukaku, Victor Moses and Thibaut Courtois…
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Thibaut Courtois: goalkeeper (Atletico Madrid)
The Belgian international is just 21 but is in the middle of his third consecutive season on loan at the Vicente Calderon, where he has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Having won the Europa League and Copa del Rey, the La Liga and Champions League crowns are Courtois’ targets this season but he is expected to either return to Chelsea or move on permanently in the summer, after making it clear he will not sit on the bench. Blues boss Jose Mourinho therefore faces a huge decision: keep the reliable Petr Cech or replace the 31-year-old with Courtois.
Sam Walker: goalkeeper (Colchester)
Young goalkeeper Walker, 22, has played every game for League One outfit Colchester United this season but his current loan spell is set to expire on 19 January. The 6’5″ stopper made his professional debut on loan at Barnet in March 2011 and has since had loan spells at Northampton Town, Yeovil and Bristol Rovers, before joining the U’s. Although 22 is still young for a goalkeeper, with 21-year-old Thibaut Courtois also on the Blues books, it seems unlikely Walker will ever make it as Chelsea’s number one.
Patrick van Aanholt: defender (Vitesse)
With Ashley Cole’s influence waning, Chelsea are likely to be in the market for a new left back in the next transfer window but Jose Mourinho should run the rule over Van Aanholt before persuading Roman Abramovich to open his chequebook again. The 23-year-old Dutchman has made just two league appearances for Chelsea since arriving from PSV in 2007 but has been so impressive on loan at high-flying Eredivisie outfit Vitesse that he won his first cap for the Netherlands in November 2013. Van Aanholt still needs to work on his crossing but has bagged three goals and three assists for Vitesse so far this term and has been a key player in their title-bid.
Wallace: defender (Inter Milan)
Chelsea signed Brazil under-20 star Wallace last January and farmed the 19-year-old out on loan to Inter Milan this summer. Wallace, who can play in either full-back role, has struggled to make an impact for the Nerazzurri, however, making just three appearances from the bench so far this season. But with Branislav Ivanovic approaching 30, Wallace will likely get his chance to impress at Stamford Bridge in the future.
Nathaniel Chalobah: defender (Middlesbrough)
After making 12 appearances on loan at Nottingham Forest in the first half of this season, Chelsea sent 19-year-old Chalobah to Middlesborough earlier this week. Chalobah, who can play in either defence or midfield, spent the majority of the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Watford where then-manager Gianfranco Zola, a Blues legend, tipped him to eventually fill the boots of Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.
Todd Kane: defender (Blackburn)
Twenty-year-old right back Kane is enjoying a decent season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, where he has recorded one goal and three assists for the Championship side. The youngster, who has represented England at under-19 level, clearly has ability but is unlikely to ever make the grade at Stamford Bridge, and has perhaps already found his level in the second tier.
Kenneth Omeruo: defender (Middlesbrough)
Nigeria international Omeruo has already played against the likes of Luis Suarez, Didier Drogba, Edinson Cavani and Javier Hernandez, and helped the Super Eagles win the African Cup of Nations last year. The 20-year-old, who joined ‘Boro in a loan deal earlier this month, is yet to even make the bench for the Blues but clearly has the potential to develop into a quality centre-back.
Ryan Bertrand: defender (Aston Villa)
The versatile 23-year-old joined Aston Villa on loan this week and is likely to provide Paul Lambert will some healthy competition at both left back and on the wing. The two-cap England international made 19 league appearances for the Blues last season but has slipped behind Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order since Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge and has had a solitary league outing so far this term. If Bertrand impresses at Villa Park, he may be given a chance next season but it looks increasingly unlikely he’ll make it at Chelsea.
Oriol Romeu: midfielder (Valencia)
The Spaniard has already made over 20 appearances for Chelsea in the league but appears to be another who has no long-term future at Stamford Bridge. Romeu, now 22, has struggled to force his way into Valencia’s first team and has been used mainly in the Europa League this term. The arrival of Nemanja Matic at Chelsea would suggest Romeu is not in Jose Mourinho’s long-term plans.
Marko Marin: midfielder (Sevilla)
Germany international Marin was expected to make a big impact at Chelsea after arriving from Werder Bremen in summer 2012 but failed to settle in the Premier League and made just a handful of appearances last season before joining Sevilla in a season-long loan deal last summer. After initially impressing, the 24-year-old missed a month of the campaign with a hamstring injury and failed to get back in the team, and has not started a match since September. Marin was compared to Lionel Messi during his time in Germany but a combination of the bad choices and bad luck mean he is unlikely to succeed at Chelsea, particularly given the Blues’ abundance of attacking midfielders.
Christian Atsu: midfielder (Vitesse)
Atsu was signed from Jose Mourinho’s former club Porto in the summer and immediately farmed out to Vitesse on loan. The 22-year-old, who can operate on either wing or centrally, has been used a box-to-box midfielder by the Eredivisie title-challengers and is having a reasonably decent season, bagging one goal and two assists in ten appearances.
Bertrand Traore: midfielder (Vitesse)
Already a full Burkina Faso international, 18-year-old playmaker Traore joined the Blues permanently this month before immediately being farmed out to feeder club Vitesse. The talented midfielder massively impressed on Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia this summer and made an immediate impact at Vitesse, setting up fellow-Blues loanee Lucas Piazon for a goal in a friendly with Wolfsburg, with this sublime pass:
Cristian Cuevas: midfielder (Vitesse)
The 18-year-old Chilean starlet signed for Chelsea this summer and, like many others, was immediately sent to Vitesse on loan. The youngster, who can play anywhere on the left flank and has been compared with Gareth Bale, is yet to make a single appearances for title-challenging Vitesse, suggesting he may need longer to adapt to European football.
Ulises Davila: midfielder (Cordoba)
The 22-year-old Mexican was signed back in August 2011 but struggled in the customary loan at Vitesse in 2011/12 season, making just senior appearances for the Dutch side and mainly being used in their reserves. After another season on loan at Spanish outfit Sabadell, the attacking midfielder is now with secunda division outfit Cordoba, where he is having an impressive season. Davila’ Blues contract expires in 2016 and he will surely be sold this summer.
Thorgan Hazard: midfielder (Zulte-Waregem)
The 20-year-old joined along with brother Eden in 2011 but should not be considered a spare part. Like his brother, Thorgan is an attacking midfielder and has been mightily impressive on loan at the Juliper League’s Zulte-Waregem this season, bagging 9 goals so far and earning his first senior cap for Belgium. Hazard junior has been so good, he already feels he has outgrown Zulte and he already wants to leave and join high-flying Anderlecht for the second half of the season; talks are reportedly on-going. With that mix of talent and ambition, don’t rule out seeing the Hazard brothers line up together in Chelsea’s first team in the future.
George Saville: midfielder (Brentford)
After struggling to get a game at Championship Millwall last season, Saville has slipped down a level to League One and the versatile 20-year-old is impressing this term for Brentford. Left-footed Saville can play in both defence and midfield but seems unlikely to ever make the grade at Stamford Bridge.
Victor Moses: forward (Liverpool)
The Nigerian is perhaps the most high-profile Chelsea player on loan, having lit up the Premier League with his performances for Wigan before moving to Stamford Bridge in summer 2012. Moses had a decent first season at Stamford Bridge, particularly impressing in the club’s victorious Europa League campaign but was allowed to join Liverpool on a season-long deal in August. If the powerful 23-year-old can fire Liverpool to the title at Chelsea’s expense, then it will look a foolish decision on the Blues’ part but so far, Moses is proving to be only a bit-part player at Anfield, with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers insisting he needs time to adapt.
Romelu Lukaku: forward (Everton)
If there is one loanee most Chelsea fans would take back in a heartbeat, it’s Belgian forward Lukaku. The 20-year-old was brilliant on a season-long deal at West Brom last season, outscoring all Chelsea’s forwards with 17 Premier League goals and he has continued where he left off at Everton this term. Lukaku has had a hand in 13 league goals (scoring 9, assisting 4) for the Toffees so far – that’s one more goal and assist than Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o have between them! Lukaku does appear to be exactly what Chelsea need at present and, although the Belgium international has said he could stay at Goodison Park if they qualify for the Champions League, it looks likely he will return to Stamford Bridge in May to be first choice forward.
Lucas Piazon: forward (Vitesse)
Of all Chelsea’s loanees at Vitesse, Brazilian star Piazon has been the most impressive. The 19-year-old has banged 11 goals and provided 8 assists in just 16 appearances for the high-flying Dutch club. Piazon, 19, has been playing, mainly from the left wing for Vitesse, where competition is fierce at Chelsea. But the youngster clearly has the talent to make an impact at Stamford Bridge in the future.
Milan Lalkovic: forward (Walsall)
The Slovakian under-21 international joined Chelsea in 2007 but is yet to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. After a failed loan spell at Primera Liga club Vitoria de Guimaraes last season, Lalkovic seems to have found his level at League One Wallsall.
Patrick Bamford: forward (Derby)
After impressing during two consecutive seasons on loan at League One MK Dons, Bamford made the step up to the Championship early this month, joining Derby on a deal until the end of the season. The 20-year-old is versatile and can play as a lone striker, in the hole or even on the wing. It will be interesting to see if he impresses in the second tier but it seems unlikely Bamford will ever be a regular for the Blues.
Jhon Pirez: forward (Leganes)
Pirez struggled to make an impact on loan at Defensor in the 2010/11 season following a bout of appendicitis and after a spell in limbo, the Uruguay under-20 international international is now on loan at Leganes. At 20, it seems improbably that Pirez will even be a regular, let alone make an appearance, for Chelsea.
Stipe Perica: forward (NAC Breda)
The Croatia under-21 international joined Chelsea this summer and was immediately sent on loan to NAC Breda. The 18-year-old is showing his potential in the Eredivisie and currently has scored four goals, despite being mainly used as a sub.