Chelsea have a chequered history with the loan system, only really reaping the rewards of shipping out their best and brightest in recent seasons, with several of Cobham’s finest shining in the first team. It’s been a long road to reach this point, with the noughties and 2010s particularly profligate; so much talent fell through the cracks and ultimately by the wayside amid Roman Abramovich’s relentless pursuit of immediate success.
Things are different now, though, with Reece James, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah walking proof that there is a route to the first team for members of the loan army, and the club’s newly-established emphasis on youth means there are opportunities to be had if you can prove yourself elsewhere.
However, for other, more experienced players, the loan system simply offers an escape route – a chance to reinvigorate their career in new surroundings, without any hope or expectation of ever returning to Stamford Bridge.
90minsoccer ranks Chelsea’s current crop of loanees as they progress throughout the season…
Last updated: October 11, 2023
16Andrey Santos (Nottingham Forest) – 0/10 ↔️
It seemed for all the world that exciting young midfielder Santos would form part of the first-team picture at Chelsea this season under Mauricio Pochettino, but the club took the decision to ship him out late in the transfer window.
Things haven’t gone to plan, with Santos regularly omitted from Premier League matchday squads at Nottingham Forest, only making his league debut at the end of October in a seven-minute cameo against Liverpool.
Forest boss Steve Cooper claims Santos has been “good” and that the situation is purely “circumstantial”, but it seems something is amiss. There are understandable suggestions that he could be recalled in January.
15Diego Moreira (Lyon) – 2/10
No one at Lyon will be enjoying themselves amid a nightmarish season when they find themselves rooted to the bottom of Ligue 1, but Moreira hasn’t been given much of an opportunity to make a difference.
The teenage winger, who joined the Blues from Benfica this summer, impressed off the bench on his Lyon debut and started the subsequent defeat to Brest back in September, but hasn’t played since.
14Charlie Webster (Heerenveen) – 2/10 ↔️
Life at struggling Heerenveen has been a very short and sharp rollercoaster ride so far for Webster. After a brief cameo off the bench, the midfielder scored on his full Eredivisie debut before being promptly sent off for a late lunge. The 19-year-old has barely played since, being restricted to cameo appearances off the bench.
13Lewis Hall (Newcastle) – 4/10
The decision to send Hall to Newcastle on a loan deal with an obligation to buy caused uproar with the Chelsea faithful, but the versatile youngster isn’t exactly flourishing elsewhere. However, with the Magpies’ squad stretched thin, he is starting too see more opportunities having barely played before.
He scored a fine goal against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, but was at fault in the Champions League defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.
12David Datro Fofana (Union Berlin) – 4/10 ↔️
Fofana continues to be given plenty of opportunities amid Union Berlin’s remarkably bad start to the season, but he hasn’t exactly set the world alight. The striker has been struggling with some personal issues and found himself in hot water after snubbing his manager’s handshake after being subbed in late October.
He has, however, finally gotten off the mark with an important goal against Napoli in the Champions League.
11Gabriel Slonina (Eupen) – 4/10 ↔️
Another Chelsea loanee who forms part of a side that is struggling overall, and is perhaps suffering as a result. United States prospect Slonina made an initial impression between the sticks for Eupen in Belgium as No.1 goalkeeper, but they have since slid down the table thanks to a run of six straight defeats.
The 19-year-old kept his first clean sheet in the much-needed win over Charleroi, but his post-shot xG minus goals allowed (the most reliable metric for measuring shot-stopping ability) currently sits at a concerning -2.2, with a save percentage of just 67.
10Mason Burstow (Sunderland) – 5/10
Burstow was given a few opportunities in the Chelsea first team at the start of the season before being shipped out to Sunderland. The rangy striker is yet to score, and having started every game since arriving, he lost his place in October amid the Black Cats’ poor form. It seems he has some work to do to regain his place.
9Cesare Casadei (Leicester City) – 5/10
The Italian made the fastest possible start for Leicester as he scored a stoppage-time winner off the bench on the opening day against Cardiff, but that has proven to be the high point so far for the midfielder.
Casadei has rotated between a starting place and the bench of late, and has looked a little sluggish, acknowledging he needs to “improve”. He did, however, enjoy one of his best games so far in the win over Sunderland.
8Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray) – 5/10
Ziyech may have finally found an escape route from Stamford Bridge after his failed January transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, but he hasn’t avoided the Blues’ injury curse. After his Galatasaray debut was delayed as he worked to get up to match fitness, the Moroccan scored and assisted in consecutive league games before being sidelined with a foot issue.
He has returned to action, but is yet to really find his groove amid calls for him to play centrally, and his manager has said he will be handled with care.
7Tino Anjorin (Portsmouth) – 6/10
A veteran of Chelsea’s loan system at just 21 years old, Anjorin is being eased back from a serious ankle injury at League One table-toppers Portsmouth. After a string of brief cameos off the bench, the attacking midfielder made his first start since September 2022 in early October.
Although he is yet to play a full 90, he has been given more substantial minutes and scored in the comeback win over Reading with an excellent finish.
6Harvey Vale (Bristol Rovers) – 6/10 ↔️
After initially struggling to find his place at Bristol Rovers, Vale became a regular starter – but in the unfamiliar left-back position, rather than on the wing.
He performed so well there that then-manager Joey Barton even compared him to Chelsea legend Ashley Cole. However, the outspoken coach has now been sacked, with Vale moved back to his natural wing position – scoring in the FA Cup and notching a league assist.
5Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town) – 6/10 ↔️
Hutchinson continues to be rotated in and out of Ipswich’s line-up as they battle Leicester at the top of the Championship. The former Arsenal winger has, however, figured in every game bar one, picking up a crucial late assist against Birmingham, and his minutes are only increasing.
4Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City) – 6/10
A member of Chelsea’s loan army who seems to have a real shot at making it in the first team, Humphreys has become a key part of Swansea’s backline, with his manager Michael Duff hailing his “great mentality”.
The highlight of his spell with the Swans to this point is undoubtedly his well-taken late winner against Norwich – a striker’s finish for his first senior goal.
3Angelo Gabriel (Strasbourg) – 7/10
Angelo took to life in European football like a duck to water, with his performances seeing him snare Strasbourg’s Player of the Month and the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month awards for September. The 18-year-old demonstrated all the attributes that persuaded Chelsea to part with £13 million ($16m) to sign him from Santos.
However, his loan club’s form has tailed off somewhat, and his progress has been hindered by an adductor injury. He will hope to return to that higher level soon.
2Kepa Arrizabalaga (Real Madrid) – 7/10
Kepa leapt at the opportunity to join Real Madrid on loan following Thibaut Courtois’ ACL injury, and he certainly won’t be regretting the decision. The goalkeeper has kept six clean sheets in 13 appearances, maintaining a post-shot xG minus goals allowed of +2 in La Liga and a save percentage of 77, and it’s said Real want to keep him already.
However, a muscle injury in November will see the 29-year-old sidelined for the best part of a month. He will hope that doesn’t derail his strong form.
1Romelu Lukaku (Roma) – 7/10 ↔️
In truth this is a loan in name only, with Lukaku certain to never pull on the blue shirt ever again following an acrimonious and protracted exit in the summer. Chelsea could do with an in-form striker, though, and typically the Belgian is once again demonstrating that he is the apex Serie A hitman under Jose Mourinho at Roma.
Since plundering five goals in six league games at the start of the season, Lukaku has slowed up somewhat, although he’s added to his Europa League account and scored a vital stoppage-time winner against Lecce in a remarkable comeback victory.
