Official: Armando Broja joins Southampton on loan from Chelsea

Armando Broja’s meteoric rise up the Chelsea ranks continues with a rather ambitious and challenging loan.

The 19-year-old, who was one of the most prolific teenaged goal-scorers in any of Europe’s top leagues while on loan at Chelsea B Vitesse last year, has today joined Premier League side Southampton for the season.

Broja is the second Chelsea Academy player to join Saints this summer, though unlike Valentino Livramento, he’s expected to return to Cobham next summer and perhaps challenge for a first-team spot with the Blues. Southampton also count former Blue Oriol Romeu among their number, with Ryan Bertrand leaving last month to join Community Shield-winning Leicester City.

Assuming Saints make no more signings in attack to replace Danny Ings, Broja should have a fantastic opportunity to establish himself at such a high level, facing competition only from the likes of Ché Adams and Michael Obafemi. However, Saints are supposedly also close to also signing Adam Armstrong, who scored 29 goals for Blackburn last season.

Either way, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhüttl certainly can do us a solid here by trusting Broja with some high pressure minutes.

“Armando is a very talented player who we were impressed by last season. He is young, but he comes now with a full season of experience in senior football with a good team, and he brings a lot of qualities that can help us.“

“He is a strong, quick player with a good instinct and this makes him a good fit for the way we like to play. I know how highly regarded he is by Chelsea, and I think this will be a good place for him to continue his own development as well.”

-Ralph Hasenhüttl; source: Southampton FC

Good luck, Armando!