Official: Mario Pasalic joins Spartak Moscow on season-long loan

After briefly filling in as central midfield depth in a squad currently still lacking it for the pre-season tour of Asia, young Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic has again left Stamford Bridge to go out on loan, this time to the Russian capital.

As is standard practice, Pasalic signed a new long-term Chelsea contract before heading out on loan. There is no indiciation of Chelsea allowing for the inclusion of a buy-option, so the 22-year-old will be expected back at Cobham next summer.

Since joining Chelsea in 2014, Pasalic has gone on loan to three different clubs; Elche in La Liga, Monaco in Ligue 1 and, most recently, Milan for the 2016-17 campaign. He has made a total of 70 league appearances over the last three years, scoring 11 goals.

Pasalic joins a Spartak side guaranteed a Pot 1 entry into the UEFA Champions League for the upcoming campaign, supplementing current central midfielders Fernando and Denis Glushakov. Chances to play should be plentiful for the young Pasalic, who’s proven his value in all three of his previous temporary assignments.

Onwards, Mario, go win things!