Yet another faithful, long-time servant of the loan army heads back out on assignment, as it was announced today that young Nigerian defender Kenneth Omeruo has joined Turkish club Alanyaspor on a season-long loan deal. Prior to that move, Omeruo also signed a new three-year contract with Chelsea.
Son gün 3 imza
— Alanyaspor (@AlanyasporFK) 31 August 2016
Kulübümüz, transfer döneminin son gününde Monaco'dan Vanger Love, Chelsea'dan Kenneth Omeruo ve... https://t.co/Jg9AmlpLbo
#new challenge.. #thankful #alanyaspor #turkey #superleague #cfc #omeruo ♥️ family @ Alanyaspor… https://t.co/oAyTlijmwM
— kenneth omeruo (@omeruo22) August 31, 2016
In regards to his new loan stint, Omeruo said that he wants to take the best out of this opportunity.
"The focus right now is to play regularly and establish myself here. I know what to expect joining a team with big ambitions - it means the bar has been raised even higher."
"I don't want to enjoy the tag of being a Chelsea player always going out on loan without regular football. My desire is to prove myself a worthy addition to Alanyaspor, make a significant contribution in all competitions and take it from there."
"I don't want to get ahead of myself but everybody wants to be settled at a place and play regularly - I am no different."
-Kenneth Omeruo; Source: BBC
Omeruo spent last season in Turkey as well, but Kasimpasa did not have the money to acquire him on a permanent basis.
The now 22-year-old arrived at Chelsea from Belgian club Standard Liege in January 2012, and was immediately sent on a 18-month loan to Eredivisie team ADO Den Haag. He also spent 18 month with Middlesbrough, impressing at both clubs. In the meantime, he was a standout performer for the Nigerian national team at the Confederations Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Cup.
Those glimpses of talent have us believing that maybe there's still a chance for Omeruo to make his way into the Chelsea first-team in the future. Then again, given that he got zero attention during the ongoing center back crisis of numbers in the senior team, those chances may be impossibly slim at best.