Chelsea make Gary Cahill available for loan — report

After seven years, Gary Cahill looks set to leave Chelsea Football Club at the end of the season. His contract is expiring and there is no offer of renewal anywhere on the horizon.

In fact, according to the Telegraph, Cahill will be allowed to leave on loan in January, with the club effectively making it possible for him to leave six months early, should he so choose. It’s a bit of an odd story that’s framed as a “reward” for his long and excellent service to the club, but it could just as easily be read as the club pushing him out early.

Whether Cahill would take advantage of this opportunity would depend presumably on just how much he’s playing — right now about every other game thanks to the midweek-weekend rotation policy, for a total of 6 appearances — and whether there was any solid interest in his services. A few weeks ago, Cahill had actually recommitted himself to Chelsea for the season after speaking of potential January exit earlier.

Regardless of how he chooses, Cahill will leave Chelsea as one of the most decorated players in club history, having won it all (except the Club World Cup), having amassed nearly 300 appearances (he’s 12 shy of that mark, but still in the top 40 on the all-time appearance list), and having captained the club for the past couple seasons, even. He was never the flashiest or the best, but he was consistent, committed, and always there when needed. He will be missed.