Ruben Loftus-Cheek has left Chelsea after 19 years at the club, joining AC Milan on a permanent transfer. The midfielder made 155 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 13 goals, and won the Premier League, Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup.
Loftus-Cheek joined Chelsea as an eight-year-old and progressed through the academy ranks. He made his first-team debut in 2014 and went on to make regular appearances in the following seasons. However, he suffered a serious Achilles injury in 2019 which set him back.
After his recovery, Loftus-Cheek spent loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham. He impressed at both clubs and returned to Chelsea in 2021. However, he struggled to break into the first team and made only 17 appearances in all competitions last season.
Loftus-Cheek has now opted to leave Chelsea in search of regular playing time. He has signed a four-year contract with AC Milan and will be looking to help the club challenge for trophies in Serie A and the Champions League.
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In a statement, Loftus-Cheek said: “I’m grateful for everything Chelsea has done for me. I’ve grown up here and I’ve learned so much during my time here. I’m sad to be leaving but I’m excited for this new challenge at AC Milan.”
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said: “Ruben is a fantastic player and a great person. He has been a big part of our team for many years and we will miss him. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Loftus-Cheek is the latest player to leave Chelsea this summer. The club has also sold Romelu Lukaku, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Chelsea are undergoing a major squad overhaul under new ownership. The club has spent heavily in the transfer market, signing Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Jules Kounde.
Loftus-Cheek is a talented player who has the potential to be a key player for AC Milan. He will be hoping to rediscover his best form at the San Siro and help the club achieve success.