Chelsea confirm first new loan move of January transfer window

Chelsea may not be expected to do any major business this January, but we will certainly still be quite busy in the market, sorting out various loan moves to and fro. Case in point: Ike Ugbo.

The 19-year-old was just recalled earlier this week from mid-table Championship side Barnsley, where he scored a couple goals but has played only sporadically over the past couple months, and now he’s already off to try his luck at a new team, albeit one level below Barnsley. On Thursday, Chelsea confirmed that the young striker has joined MK Dons on loan for the rest of the seasons.

The Dons, who have hosted Chelsea loanees Patrick Bamford and Lewis Baker in recent years, and also helped develop Dele Alli, are currently battling relegation in League One as one of the lowest scoring teams in the division (28 goals in 26 games). Their two no-name journeymen strikers have a combined 6 goals in 39 appearances so there’s plenty of room for Ugbo to make his impact felt.

MK apparently wanted Ugbo in the summer already, but a more challenging loan was chosen for him instead then.

“Ike was one of our main targets during the summer but he went to the Championship. We’re really pleased, though, that it is worked out for us in January. He will definitely add a lot to the team – he’s a natural finisher but he’s also got great link play and good pace and physicality.”

-Robbie Neilson, manager; source: MK Dons

Hopefully Ugbo, who led the Chelsea youth teams in scoring last season, will thus get plenty of minutes and reward the hype video of his signing with plenty of goals.