Young midfielder (forward?) Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one of the few Chelsea Academy graduates of recent seasons who has yet to undertake the rite of passage known as a stint in the Loan Army. However this exception has now been remedied with a season-long loan move to Crystal Palace.
Welcome @rubey_lcheek on a season-long loan! #CPFC have completed a #CheekyLoan signing from @ChelseaFC...
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 12, 2017
➡ https://t.co/TLZg2nY0kH pic.twitter.com/dWawIQz24E
At Crystal Palace, Loftus-Cheek will be guided by Ajax legend (both as a player and as a coach) Frank de Boer who helped develop future Premier League players such as Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Davy Klassen during his tenure at the famous Amsterdam club. Hopefully he will have a similar impact on Loftus-Cheek. A successful Premier League season on loan could be the making of Loftus-Cheek, just as it had been preordained so many years ago by José Mourinho.
Ruben earned his professional and Chelsea debut under Mourinho, back in December 2014 as a substitute against Sporting CP in the Champions League. But in the 2.5 years since, he’s amassed only 1030 minutes of first-team football. A season with actual, consistent playing time is sorely needed.
Good luck, RLC!