Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu becomes loan army commander with Leipzig loan

Ethan Ampadu has begun a blockbuster loan to Leipzig from Chelsea. He automatically jumps to the front of the queue in the loan army.

Ethan Ampadu arrived at Chelsea as an unknown. He was young and came from League Two and many thought he was a long, long ways off from the first team if he ever made it in the first place. But then Antonio Conte gave him a debut and he looked like he fit right in with the rest of the team. It was not long before he was deemed good enough to start against Premier League opposition.

Injuries and being a jack-of-all-trades, master of none kept the Welshman from featuring much last season. Because of that, a loan was needed to ensure his immense talent did not fade away like so many before him. Chelsea nailed it perfectly with Ampadu going to Leipzig for the 2019/2020 season.

It is rare that a player gets a loan so simply perfect for them. Earlier in the week, before Leipzig rumors broke, the notion of the German side being an ideal destination for Ampadu was discussed. At the time it was more wishful thinking than reality but Chelsea seemed to be thinking along the same lines.

One of Ampadu’s greatest traits is his ability (and desire) to press wherever he is. He also has an excellent sense of where he is most needed and he has the ability to move the ball where it is most needed. That is why, for the Welsh national team, he almost plays a free roaming defender role as he glides between midfield and the defensive line as needed.

Julian Nagelsmann will love that about the player. The very young German manager has built his tactics around similar philosophies of spacing as Pep Guardiola, but from a defensive and transition point of view rather than an offensive one.

Nagelsmann has traditionally used the 3-5-2 most often but he is not afraid to adapt to any shape to counter the opposition. Whereas Ampadu’s flexibility was considered a hindrance last season, this season it will be a virtue. Ampadu could easily go into a back three, back four, midfield three, or midfield two. No matter what formation or tactic Nagelsmann decides to use, Ampadu will have a place.

This loan sends Ampadu right to the top of the loan army. It reminds of Andreas Christensen’s loan to Gladbach when he was just a promising centerback without a lot already proven. A loan to a team like Leipzig where Ampadu should be expected to play fairly regularly will become appointment viewing.

It is also the type of loan that, if successful, will catapult Ampadu right into the Chelsea starting XI conversation. He likely is not as far off from that conversation as many think anyways but a successful year in German will remove any lingering doubts.

This is quite simply a perfect loan. It suits Ampadu’s playing style and he has ample opportunity to earn his way into the Leipzig side. If this is Chelsea’s new strategy with loans, then the loan army will prove very fruitful going forward.