In a testament to his talent and promise, it didn’t take very long for young Ethan Ampadu to find a loan destination for this season. Less than a week after Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard confirmed the club’s intention to send the 18-year-old on a season-long loan, in search of a proper challenge and lots of minutes, Ampadu has landed in Leipzig, passed his medical, and was official announced as their newest player.
Ampadu joins the Bundesliga side for the season, presumably without a buy option, though that’s not specifically confirmed.
Good luck in Germany, @EthanAmp4!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 22, 2019
On paper, the loan should be a perfect mix of challenge, opportunity, and development. New Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann is one of the rising stars of football management, and Leipzig’s m.o. has been predicated on youth development ever since they were taken over by Red Bull.
There’s of course the risk of Ampadu not doing well and not getting any minutes. And there’s the risk of Ampadu doing too well and ending up in Leipzig more permanently. But those are the risks we have to take if he is to fulfill his potential, now that we’ve chosen the loanee life for him. He does have four years left on the long-term Chelsea contract he signed last September.
Good luck, Ethan! Do us proud.