As stated by the club’s official website, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has officially departed the club and is set to join AC Milan in the Serie A after spending an impressive 19 years at Chelsea.
The Italian team has secured his services for a fee of €16 million, with an additional €4 million in potential add-ons. Loftus-Cheek has inked a four-year contract with Milan, binding him to the club until 2027.
The midfielder’s association with Chelsea dates back to his early childhood, as he joined the club at the age of eight. Gradually, he progressed through the ranks and made his debut at the age of 19 under the guidance of manager Jose Mourinho.
During his time at Chelsea, Loftus-Cheek experienced remarkable success in youth competitions. He played a crucial role in Chelsea’s triumphs in the Youth Cup on two occasions, as well as their victories in the Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League.
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Loftus-Cheek, who hails from Lewisham, London, has amassed a total of 155 appearances for the Chelsea senior team, contributing 13 goals and 18 assists along the way.
His achievements include winning the Premier League, Europa League, and Super Cup titles. Throughout his career, he had loan spells at Fulham and Crystal Palace.
However, Loftus-Cheek’s progress has been hindered by injuries, resulting in a stagnation of his development at Chelsea. In an effort to revive his career, the English midfielder has made the move to Serie A.
At AC Milan, he will be reunited with fellow Chelsea academy graduate Fikayo Tomori, who also joined the Italian club. There are also indications that Christian Pulisic may join them in Milan in the near future.
Loftus-Cheek’s arrival is expected to fill the void left by Sandro Tonali, who is set to join Newcastle United. Like Tonali, Loftus-Cheek is a box-to-box midfielder and aims to have a similar impact as the Italian had.
Milan are also in search of a replacement for Brahim Diaz, who has returned to Real Madrid following his two-season loan spell in Italy. Their target for this role is Tijjani Reijnders from AZ Alkmaar.
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Furthermore, the Italian outfit are in need of a new attacker for the right flank and is currently engaged in discussions with Villarreal regarding the potential transfer of Samuel Chukwueze.
Although there is still a significant gap in valuation between the two clubs, negotiations are ongoing as they attempt to reach an agreement.
