Ruben Loftus-Cheek won’t be at Chelsea this season, but he also won’t have to travel much farther than Stamford Bridge in his attempts to recover fully from his Achilles rupture. The 24-year-old has today joined Fulham on loan for the season, moving two miles down the road to Craven Cottage.
This possibility only emerged in the last 24-48 hours, and was only finalized in the last few hours of the transfer window, after a “thorough” medical.
What’s up, @RLC? #CHEEKY bit of business.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) October 5, 2020
Obviously, Loftus-Cheek’s loan does not include any sort of buy-option or other such provision. The move is purely with a view towards getting him back to full fitness by the start of next season, helping him overcome the lingering effects of a major and often career-changing injury.
Newly promoted side Fulham, managed by former Chelsea man Scott Parker, have plenty of central midfielders already, but the hope is that Loftus-Cheek will be better than all the rest.
“I’m really happy to come ‘next door,’ if you will! I watched Fulham at the start of the season and they looked like they’re playing decent football. With this Manager, I think I can get back to my best football. That’s the main thing for me, to find my form and help this team win games.”
-Ruben Loftus-Cheek; source: Fulham FC
Good luck, RLC!