Chelsea’s 20-year-old attacking midfielder, Isaiah “Izzy” Brown has signed a new four-year deal with Chelsea and joined newly promoted Brighton and Hove Albion on a season-long loan.
A new contract and Premier League loan for Izzy Brown... https://t.co/K0wxSYS5b6
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 25, 2017
Before today, six (seven, if you count Christian Atsu) Premier League teams were set to feature a current or recent Chelsea prospect — namely, Kasey Palmer (Huddersfield Town), Tammy Abraham (Swansea City), Kurt Zouma (Stoke City), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace) and the recently departed pair of Nathan Ake (Bournemouth) and Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford). Brown is the latest addition to that list and even though he didn’t get his preferred move to Huddersfield Town, where he was on loan last season, he’s still going to be playing his football at the highest level next season.
The full story on the arrival of Izzy Brown on a season-long deal from Chelsea. #BHAFC https://t.co/eoUL9gVxN1 pic.twitter.com/NXfVsPQzWn
— BHAFC ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) July 25, 2017
Here’s Brighton manager, Chris Hughton’s take on his latest signing.
"The natural progression for Izzy, having enjoyed such a successful season in the Championship last season, was to step up to the Premier League - and we are delighted he will be doing that with us, here at Brighton. "He is a player with great potential and will bring a different dimension to our attacking options for the season ahead, alongside our existing strikers."
- Chris Hughton; source: Brighton and Hove Albion
Acquired in the summer of 2013, from West Bromwich Albion, where he had already made his Premier League debut, Brown then spent the next two seasons playing and excelling for Chelsea’s Under-21 side. He also made his Premier League debut for Chelsea at the end of the 2014-15 season, against none other than his previous club. He had an uninspiring start to his life as a Chelsea loanee with an injury-marred, lukewarm season at Vitesse Arnhem in 2015-16 but re-discovered his confidence and form in the Championship last season. He was a stand-out talent at Rotherham United for the first half of the season and shone even brighter at Huddersfield Town for the latter half. The fact that he’s going to be playing in the Premier League this season goes to show what one good season on loan can do for a young player.
Brown spent his time at Huddersfield playing as a central attacking midfielder, although he can also play up front, as his manager pointed out above. Brighton played almost exclusively with a 4-4-2 shape last season and currently possess a strike-force of Glenn Murray, Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock, with the former two on the wrong side of 30. Brown should prove to be a breath of fresh air and a different if not better option up front for the Seagulls.
Good luck Izzy, we’ll be watching!