At 19 years of age, time has come for midfielder Jacob Maddox to join Chelsea’s loan brigade. His first assignment will be at League Two side Cheltenham Town.
Wishing Jacob Maddox the best of luck on loan at Cheltenham Town... https://t.co/HPKXhJ64Qz
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 26, 2018
There is however a bit of a disconnect between the announcements. Whereas Chelsea say Maddox will be taking on Cheltenham for the entire season, his new manager Gary Johnson claimed that it is instead a half-season spell with the possibility to extend it until the end of the term, if everything goes right.
“Jacob is a real talent so we are excited that he is joining us ahead of the new season. His family live in Bristol so I became aware of him through that and have watched his development ever since.”
“We had a conversation with Chelsea and I’m pleased that they have allowed Jacob to come here on loan until January, with the aim for him to stay the whole season.”
Either way, Johnson is certainly excited to have a player of his calibre to aid his team in their third consecutive season in England’s fourth-level league.
“He is a quality attacking midfielder who can open up defences with his passing and running prowess. Jacob has won all there is to win with Chelsea at youth level and even trained with the first team last year. We’re pleased to now give him his first opportunity in the Football League.”
-Gary Johnson; source: Cheltenham Town FC
Maddox joined Chelsea from his local side Bristol City in 2013 as a 14-year-old. The official website describes him as “an attacking midfield player who can play in the ‘number 10’ position, but mainly features slightly deeper and enjoys running forward with the ball at his feet”.
Maddox was instrumental in Chelsea U18's campaigns to lift the 2015-16 UEFA Youth League, 2015-16 and 2016-17 FA Youth Cups and a 2016-17 Under-18 Premier League. Those performances took him to England’s U19 setup last year, with whom he won the European Championship.
Last season he played mostly for the U23 development squad, but also took part in the UEFA Youth League with the U19s, a campaign that ended with a 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the final.
May he be just as successful now in his first foray into senior football. Good luck, Jacob!