Chelsea loan watch: Players to keep an eye on

The January transfer window is in full swing and debates are swirling on who Chelsea and Enzo Maresca should sign to reinforce the squad.

One option that will be considered is whether to recall any of the 12 ‘first-team’ players out on loan for the 2024/25 season.

We have taken a look at a select few and how they are getting on at their new clubs during the first half of the season.

Andrey Santos

Andrey Santos, on loan at Racing Club de Strasbourg, has become one of the premier young midfielders in Europe. During his second spell at the club, the 20-year-old has become one of the highest scoring midfielders in Ligue 1 and is the ninth highest goal scorer overall. Santos is a high-octane box-to-box midfielder who wins a high percentage of tackles and plays with composure on the ball in a remarkably consistent fashion.

This young Brazilian is someone many fans will likely see a lot of in pre-season and it would be a surprise if he wasn’t a first-team member at Chelsea going into the 2025/26 Premier League season. 

Lesley Ugochukwu

Lesley Ugochukwu, a player who was a designated first-team player under Mauricio Pochettino, more likely due to injuries and a lack of understanding of what this team would look like going forward, has been on loan with Southampton.

He has impressed in moments at the Saints, but has had spells out of the squad as well. However, Russell Martin has now been sacked and this could mean another opportunity for Ugochukwu to get back into the squad and develop even more.

Since the sacking, there is reason to be optimistic as the defensive midfielder has recently come off the bench against Fulham to earn some plaudits from fans. Ugochukwu was aggressive, forward-thinking, and composed, focusing on keeping possession and progressing the ball upfield from deep. While it is still too early for him, he could have a space in this squad if there is any upheaval in the midfield for Chelsea after another season or two on loan. 

Alfie Gilchrist

Alfie Gilchrist, the young man John Terry praised a year ago in a fan forum. A Cobham graduate and as blue as they come. Gilchrist has been on loan this season with Sheffield United.

The Blades have kept the most clean sheets in the Championship and have been one of the best teams in the league. Only Burnley have conceded less goals this season at the time of writing. While the young 21-year-old has been ever present in the promotion challenging side, he has also been playing in a different role. Most of his appearances have come at right back, but within this Maresca shifting backline, he would possibly be an exciting option to come in and compete at Chelsea, with Wesley Fofana and Reece James perennially in and out of the squad and Axel Disasi being linked away.

While he doesn’t necessarily attempt a lot of passes, he is quite accurate, completing 80.4%, and is very defensively astute. It’s hard to say whether or not there is a place for him in the squad going into next season, especially with Josh Acheampong seemingly making his way into the squad in a similar role, but keep your eyes on him during the summer of 2025. 

Caleb Wiley

Caleb Wiley joined the club with small fanfare due to the quiet and quick nature of the move. He joined, immediately went on loan to Strasbourg and while he has featured, Wiley has unfortunately suffered injury issues and not been able to fully stake a claim to be the starting left-back for Liam Rosenior’s side.

Additionally, the newly turned 20-year-old and the way in which he operates as a full-back does raise questions about whether or not he would fit into a Maresca side with Marc Cucurella and Renato Veiga currently thriving in that role. The young American is more likely to continue his loan journey with Chelsea’s sister club or find another temporary home to apply his trade for the next season or two as he acclimates to European football. 

Written by: Paolo (@paolo_hr)

Edited by: Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2)