Academy graduate right-back joins Hull City on loan

In what is most likely going to be his final loan as a Chelsea player, Todd Kane has joined Hull City on a season-long loan.

Apart from a couple of spells in the Netherlands with FC Groningen and NEC Nijmegen, Kane has spent significant time on loan in the English lower leagues at the likes of Preston North End, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and most recently, Oxford United. Once a highly promising prospect turning heads with the Chelsea youth teams, Kane’s most impressive loan spell came three seasons ago with NEC Nijmegen, after which he was linked with the big fish of the Eredivisie, such as Feyenoord and PSV. Unfortunately, an ACL injury set Kane’s progress back by several notches, resulting in him having to drop back down to League One in January.

It was initially reported that Chelsea were willing to sell Kane, who has one year remaining on his current contract, to Hull City for no cost at all, provided Hull included a sell-on clause in the deal. However, an initial loan may indicate that the Tigers want to assess his injury susceptibility for a season before purchasing him outright.

Here are Kane’s first words upon signing, wherein he himself speaks about the loan possibly being his last, and looks forward to getting his career back on track.

“I think this will be my last loan because I really want to find a permanent deal, if that’s here or not we will see over the course of the next few months.”

“With that in mind, this is a very important year for me and I want to play as many games as possible. I believe that I have the ability to do that.

“Hull City have given me the opportunity to come here, so I want to grab it with both hands and show people what I can do.

“I want to get playing and be in a team that wants to do well. I’m ready for the challenge ahead.”

“I’ve had some good experiences on loan,”

“Time in the Championship with Blackburn and Nottingham Forest, and a taste of playing in European football with Nijmegen and Groningen, has been enjoyable.

“I feel like I’m coming back into the Championship as a better player compared to the last time I was in this division and certainly more experienced.”

“I’m an attacking full-back and like to get up and down the pitch.

“I’m quite aggressive in tackles and also like to get crosses into the box and score goals. I always give 110 per cent and I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”

- Todd Kane; source: Hull City Tigers

Good luck Toddy Kane! Once a blue, always a blue.