With the 2018/19 season officially over, we here at Tribalfootball are making sure you know all about how your loan players performed throughout the campaign. For this edition, we run our eye over Chelsea's loanees.
This group of loanees is especially important as Chelsea's transfer ban should mean that they will finally dip their fingers into this notoriously deep talent pool. Many of these names could rise to the next level as the opportunity under Frank Lampard might present itself.
TOP 5 PERFORMERS
1. Reece James, (Season-Long Loan) Wigan Athletic
Age: 19
Position: Right-Back / Defensive Midfield
An extraordinary season from the teenager who in his first ever professional season exceeded all possible expectations. Making 45 appearances in the Championship, 44 of them in the starting 11, James was a crucial component to Wigan's season, starting as a right-back and progressing into defensive midfield. James played well beyond his years, leading the team and setting an example for his struggling side, so much so that he even donned the captain's armband in their final match of the season. The Englishman was simply essential to Wigan's survival in the Championship. He scored 3 goals, two of them absolute screamers and one that won Wigan's goal of the season award. He also registered 3 assists to go along with his 74 key passes, 126 accurate long balls and 45 shots from outside the box. James also averaged 2.1 tackles per game, 2.3 clearances and 0.9 interceptions. Accolades naturally flew his way and he was included in the Championship team of the season, as well as winning Wigan's 'player of the season award' along with the 'player's player of the season' award. It was the start of what has the potential to be an illustrious career which could continue at Chelsea as early as the 19/20 season.
Rating: 10/10
2. Tammy Abraham, (Season-Long Loan) Aston Villa
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Forward
A simply outstanding season for the young English striker who bounced back from a slightly underwhelming spell with Swansea in 17/18. Abraham was a goal-machine with the Aston Villa outfit that stormed home to achieve promotion to the Premier League. He made 40 championship appearances, all of them in the starting 11 and scored an astonishing 26 goals as well as a smart 3 assists. This scintillating season even included a 4-goal-haul against Nottingham Forest. He was the 2nd highest goalscorer in the Championship, averaged 2.9 shots per game (8th in the League), registered 30 key passes and averaged 3 aerial-duels-won per game. It will be interesting to see whether he will get his chance at Chelsea under Frank Lampard because if not he will have plenty of suitors vying for his signature.
Rating: 9.5/10
3. Fikayo Tomori, (Season-Long Loan) Derby
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Back
It was an outstanding season under Frank Lampard for the young defender Tomori, who despite his tender age of 21, commanded the Derby side with his strong and calm defending. Despite standing at a mere 185cm, Tomori stood tall and was an incessant force at Centre-Back for the Rams. Tomori played in every single fixture for Derby bar one, totalling to 55 appearances across all competitions. Tomori even managed to score 2 goals and notched up 1 assist. In the Championship he averaged 2.3 tackles per game, 1.5 interceptions and 3.9 clearances. Not just defensively was Tomori strong as he boasted an impressive pass accuracy of 82.9%, hitting 158 accurate long balls and registering 8 key passes. Of course not perfect, Tomori scored two own-goals along with picking up 9 yellow cards. Derby County finished 6th before making the Championship play-off final, boasting the League's 6th best defensive record. Tomori was rewarded for his outstanding season by winning Derby's 'player of the season' award. With the release of Gary Cahill along with his already close bond with Frank Lampard, this super season might've rocketed Tomori into Chelsea's 19/20 plans.
Rating: 9/10
4. Mason Mount, (Season-Long Loan) Derby
Age: 20
Position: Attacking Midfield
This exciting young Englishman was a key factor in Frank Lampard's Derby's push for promotion that fell short only at the final hurdle. Despite an ankle and hamstring injury hampering his season, Mount still managed 44 appearances across all competitions, all of them starts, and scored 11 goals as well as 6 assists. In the Championship Mount averaged 2.5 shots per game and registered an incredible 71 key passes. Dangerous from all places, Mount scored goals from inside and outside the box, including from free-kicks. A talented attacker who might get his chance at Stamford Bridge as he is already a favourite of Lampard's after playing under him during this breakout season.
Rating: 8.5/10
5. Danilo Pantic, (Two-Season-Long Loan) Partizan
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfield
One of the more subtle names on this list however it was a strong season from the Serbian midfielder. The second of his two season loan in Serbia was another fruitful season for the versatile attacker. Playing mainly on the left wing or in attacking midfield, Pantic even sported the captain's armband 5 times for his side. In total, Pantic made 45 appearances (42 starts), scoring 8 goals and registering 8 assists. An impressive record which might see him get an opportunity back at Stamford Bridge due to the transfer ban. However there is much competition in the midfield at Chelsea and he might need another loan at a higher level to help prove himself to his parent club.
Rating: 8/10
FULL SQUAD LOAN PLAYERS
Kurt Zouma, (Season-Long Loan) Everton
Age: 24
Position: Centre-Back
Another loan in the Premier League this time with Everton, spelled another consistent season for the French defender. Zouma made 36 appearances across all competitions, 32 in the Premier League. He started 32 of these matches scoring 2 goals (both headers) and notching up 2 assists, both in the PL. He averaged 1.7 interceptions per game, 3.8 clearances, 0.4 blocks, 3.1 aerial duels won, operated at 83.6% pass accuracy and made 32 successful tackles. Everton finished in 8th position with the 5th best defensive record in the League. With Gary Cahill released and the obvious transfer ban, it looks as if there will be a place for Zouma in Lampard's plans.
Rating: 7.5/10
Kenedy, (1½-Season-Long Loan) Newcastle United
Age: 23
Position: Left Midfield
The tricky Brazilian flair winger struggled to make the same impact at St James Park than in his first 6 months in the back end of the 17/18 season. This season, Kenedy made 28 appearances, 25 of which in the Premier League, however 11 of these were off the bench and often late in games. Kenedy only managed one goal and one assist for the season. The signing of Miguel Almiron saw Kenedy squeezed out of contention. The versatile talent looks unlikely to return to tyneside and might get an opportunity back at the Blues.
Rating: 5/10
Abdul Baba Rahman, (Year-Long Loan + 6-Month Loan) FC Schalke / Reims
Age: 25
Position: Left-Back
In the First half of the season, Rahman only managed the 4 matches for Schlake and missed the rest due to injury. At Reims in France he found more opportunity and played 11 matches in Ligue 1 at Left-Back, scoring 1 and assisting 1.
Rating: 3.5/10
Lewis Baker, (2-Six-Month Loans) Leeds / Reading
Age: 24
Position: Central Midfield
This British midfielder (who despite being at Chelsea for his whole career) spent his fifth loan spell at Leeds for the first six months of the season. Baker did not get much opportunity and only managed 2 starts in his 11 appearances in the Championship. However his sixth loan spell went much better with Championship side Reading. Baker made 17 starts, scoring 1 and assisting 1.
Rating: 5/10
Jamal Blackman, (5-Month Loan) Leeds
Age: 25
Position: Goalkeeper
In his half-season spell at Championship side Leeds, Blackman failed to gain the number one spot ahead of Kiko Casilla and sat on the bench for the whole time. Blackman managed to start two games in the EFL Cup where he conceded 4 goals. A tibia fracture ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Rating: 1/10
Nathan, (Season-Long Loan) Atletico-MG
Age: 23
Position: Left-Wing
The Brazilian winger struggled to make an impact in his season with Brazilian First-Division side Atletico. Nathan managed 10 appearances, only 3 being starts and only 1 of those in the League. Nathan scored 1 goal in the League along with no assists. Nathan will remain at Atletico for the first half of the 19/20 season.
Rating: 2/10
Mario Pasalic, (Two-Season-Long Loan) Atalanta
Age: 24
Position: Central Midfield
The Croatian versatile midfielder has excelled in the first season of his two-season loan at Italian surprise-packet Atalanta. Pasalic made a total of 42 appearances across Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Europa League where he has scored 8 goals and registered 6 assists. Playing at Defensive, Central and Attacking Midfield, Pasalic has only made 21 starts. His loan contract has an option to buy, so it will be interesting to see what happens at the end of his second season.
Rating: 7/10
Matt Miazga, (2-Six-Month Loans) Nantes / Reading
Age: 23
Position: Centre-Back
The American defender has had a well documented tumultuous time in France for the first half of the season. After playing 8 games and conceding 13 goals in Ligue 1, Miazga was dropped and never was able to regain his place in the first team. This led to Miazga terminating his loan move early half-way through the season with reports that he 'faked a back injury' in order to force his move. Moving to lowly Championship side Reading saw more opportunity for Miazga who started 18 consecutive matches at Centre-Back. He scored no goals or assists and racked up 6 yellow cards.
Rating: 4.5/10
Michy Batshuayi, (2-Six-Month Loans) Valencia / Crystal Palace
Age: 25
Position: Centre-Forward
Batshuayi struggled to find the back of the net in Spain, where in his 23 appearances across all competitions only managed 3 goals and 0 assists. This changed however with his move back to England where in his 13 appearances in both the Premier League and FA cup he scored 6 goals. These encouraging signs will surely see him get his chance this season under Frank Lampard.
Rating: 6/10
Tiemoue Bakayoko, (Season-Long Loan) AC Milan
Age: 24
Position: Defensive-Midfield
After a slow start, Bakayoko established himself as a rock in the centre of Milan's midfield, where he played 42 times and scored 1 goal as well as 1 assist. Milan finished in 5th position and Bakayoko was a constant presence in Defensive Midfield. He will look to force his way back into the fold but will find much competition back at Stamford Bridge.
Raing: 6.5/10
Kenneth Omeruo, (Season-Long Loan) CD Leganes
Age: 25
Position: Centre-Back
A consistent season in Spain for the Nigerian defender who made 31 appearances at Centre-Back with 0 goals or assists. A constant presence in the Leganes defence.
Rating: 6/10
Michael Hector, (Season-Long Loan) Sheffield Wednesday
Age: 26
Position: Centre-Back
The Jamaican international was a consistent cog in the Owls defence where he made 39 appearances and scored 2 goals. A constant presence in the Wednesday backline.
Rating: 6/10
Charly Musonda Jnr, (Two-Season-Long Loan) Vitesse Arnhem
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfield
A knee injury tarnished the young talent's season and has only managed the 14 minutes in Holland. Hopefully his second season at the club will include a full bill of health.
Rating: N/A
Lucas Piazon, (Six-Month Loan) Chievo Verona
Age: 25
Position: Left Wing
Loaned out to Italy for the second-half of the season, the Brazilian winger struggled to make any impact, only playing the 80 minutes in 4 appearances.
Rating: 2/10
U23 CONTRACTED PLAYERS
Isaiah Brown, (Season-Long Loan) Leeds
Age: 22
Position: Secondary-Striker
Injuries cruelled the young Englishman's season with an ACL and hamstring injury limiting him to 11 minutes in a very strong Leeds side. Unfortunately an unproductive season.
Rating: N/A
Jake Clarke-Salter, (Season-Long Loan) Vitesse Arnhem
Age: 21
Position: Centre-Back
A consistent season for the Englishman who plied his trade at the 'Chelsea 2.0' in Holland. He tallied 37 appearances with 1 goal and 2 assists to his name. Vitesse finished in 5th position with the 6th best defensive record. He only picked up the three yellow cards.
Rating: 6.5/10
Kasey Palmer, (2-Six-Month Loans) Blackburn / Bristol City
Age: 22
Position: Attacking Midfield
Palmer experienced an ok start to the year opportunity-wise where he played 14 of 26 Championship matches and only 4 off those off the bench.However the 2nd half was not as successful as Palmer only managed 2 starts in the Championship and a mere 13 off the bench. Overall he scored 5 goals in all competitions and a registered 1 assist.
Rating: 4.5/10
Trevoh Chalobah, (Season-Long Loan) Ipswich
Age: 20
Position: Defensive Midfield
In his first ever loan spell after joining Chelsea as a boy, Chalobah lapped up the opportunity. He hit the ground running becoming a regular in the Ipswich midfield. Chalobah played in 43 Championship matches, starting 35 of them and playing a total of 3275 minutes, comfortably the 2nd most in the whole squad. In it he scored 2 goals and assisted 1. Unfortunately Ipswich finished rock bottom of the Championship table and were subsequently relegated.
Rating: 7/10
Ike Ugbo, (Six-Month Loan) Scunthorpe United
Age: 20
Position: Centre-Forward
In his half-season Ugbo made 15 League One appearances (7 Starts) and scored just 1 goal. Good experience but would've liked to have hit the back of the net a few more times.
Rating: 5/10
Dujon Sterling, (Season-Long Loan) Coventry
Age: 19
Position: Right-Back
Sterling was a constant presence in League One and made 40 appearances across all competitions. He made 5 assists in League One and was the third most featured player in Coventry's squad who finished 8th in a strong season.
Rating: 6.5/10
Jacob Maddox, (Season-Long Loan) Cheltenham Town
Age: 20
Position: Attacking Midfield / Left Midfield
Another debut loan spell this time for the young Englishmen who got much opportunity at League Two side Cheltenham. Maddox made 44 appearances and scored 4 goals as well as 3 assists.
Rating: 6.5/10
Josh Grant, (Six-Month Loan) Yeovil Town
Age: 20
Position: Centre-Back
In his short spell at Yeovil in League Two (his first ever loan spell), Grant played 8 matches (90 minutes in all) predominantly at full-back. He did not register any goals or assists and he picked up the one yellow card. His side conceded 13 goals in these games (2 wins, 6 losses).
Rating: 3/10
*Other Loanees Eduardo, Ola Aina, Tomas Kalas, Todd Kane, Jay Dasilva, Victorien Angban, Kylian Hazard, Joao Rodriguez, Charlie Colkett, Fankaty Dabo, Josimar Quintero, Ruben Sammut, Kyle Scott, Nathan Baxter, Brad Collins and Jared Thompson have either been sold or released following the 18/19 season.
