Premier League star Ruben Loftus-Cheek is closing in on his exit from his boyhood club, Chelsea, after 19 years at the club.
Loftus-Cheek, 27, spent his entire career at Chelsea save two loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham. He is one of the longest-serving players at the club since he joined the club in his teens in 2004.
The English football star signed a five-year contract with Chelsea in 2019. He still has 12 months remaining in his contract but is set to leave the Blues this season.
As per Fabrizio Romano, AC Milan are closing in on a deal to sign Loftus-Cheek. Talks between the Serie A club and Chelsea for his services is at the advanced stages.
Terms of agreement has been deliberated upon and sources close to Loftus-Cheek claim he is ready to open a new chapter in his career.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s imminent Chelsea exit was on the cards following drastic changes at Stamford Bridge after Todd Boehly took over the club.
Futballnews understand Chelsea were set for a summer overhaul with the likes of Loftus-Cheek, who have been struggling to have a footing at the club, to be axed.
Since breaking into Chelsea first team in 2014, Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a good start to life in his Chelsea career in his first three years but struggled thereafter.
He has been loaned out twice to Crystal Palace and Fulham in 2017 and 2020 respectively before he settled on the fringes at the club.
Selling Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been deemed a shrewd move by Chelsea to rake in pure profits into their account since Loftus-Cheek is an homegrown player.
The departure of the English footballer will ease the pressure on Chelsea’s wage bill, giving the club a good footing for more activities in the summer transfer market.
This season, Loftus-Cheeek has made 30 appearances in all competitions for the club, a slight fall from 40 he managed for the club last season.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Ira Loftus-Cheek is a Lewisham-born English professional footballer, plying his trade as a midfielder in English topflight for Chelsea.
He is an homegrown England and Chelsea star. Born on 23 January, 1996, he started his football career in 2004 playing for Chelsea youth team.
After 10 years at Chelsea Academy, he made his first senior appearance for Chelsea in 2014.
He has 100 caps for the London club but has fallen off the club’s pecking order since 2017.
The midfielder struggled to break into the team’s starting lineup and was subsequently loaned to Crystal Palace in 2017, where he made 24 appearances for the club, scoring two goals.
He returned to the club in 2018 but was loaned again to Fulham in 2020. He made 30 appearances for Fulham, scoring one goal for the club.
Loftus-Cheek won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2017, the Europa League in 2019, and the UEFA Super Cup in 2021.
International career
Loftus-Cheek is yet to have a glittering international career. He was a hero at the youth level for the Young Lions but could only manage just a year in his senior stint with the Three Lions.
He has played for England U-16, U-17, U-18, U-21, scoring at all levels, including a seven-goal haul in his 17 appearances for the U-21 side between 2015 to 2017.
He made his first senior appearance for the Three Lions in 2017 and won only 10 caps before bowing out of the squad in 2018.
What happened to Loftus-Cheek?
Loftus-Cheek was hit with a career-threatening injury in Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Newcastle before the 2022 World Cup.
He was, however, able to return to Chelsea training in January 2023, after months on the sidelines.
How many goals has Loftus-Cheek scored in his career?.
Loftus-Cheek has scored 7 goals for Chelsea but has not recorded a single goal for England national team. He has a total of 10 career goals when his Crystal Palace and Fulham tally are added.
How long has Loftus-Cheek been at Chelsea?
Loftus-Cheek is one of the longest-serving players at Chelsea. He has been at the club since his teenage years. He joined Chelsea Academy in 2004 and has been at the club for 19 years.
How much is Loftus-Cheek earning at Chelsea?
Loftus-Cheek is earning £150,000 weekly at Chelsea. He penned a five-year contract with the club which is set to expire next summer but the Blues are ready to cash out by selling him before his contract expires.
