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Chelsea loan army: Keep, loan or sell? Ethan Ampadu (Part 16)

By Gabe Henderson

LEEDS, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Mateusz Klich of Leeds United battles for possession with Ethan Ampadu of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Sheffield United at Elland Road on April 03, 2021 in Leeds, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Carl Recine - Pool/Getty Images)
LEEDS, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Mateusz Klich of Leeds United battles for possession with Ethan Ampadu of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Sheffield United at Elland Road on April 03, 2021 in Leeds, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Carl Recine - Pool/Getty Images) /
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In Part 15 of this series, I broke down Davide Zappacosta’s career at Chelsea and discussed what his future in football looks like. For those who haven’t read the introductory piece to this series, a different player will be the subject of a new article every day. I began with goalkeepers and am currently in the process of working my way up the pitch, with each position group being sorted in order by the way in which they appear on the club’s website.

As I move on with the loan army series, I begin the deep dive into the midfield loanees with Ethan Ampadu. Ampadu made a name for himself for the crazy, trivial statistics surrounding his Blues debut, as well as his unique hairstyle. He’s widely regarded as one of the most promising players in the loan army, so let’s discuss his career up to this point.

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What does Ethan Ampadu’s Chelsea career look like?

Unlike some of the other names on this list, Ampadu’s career up to this point has been relatively straightforward. He began his career at Exeter City, a club his father played for during his time as a famous footballer. The son of Kwame Ampadu, Ethan joined his hometown side at the age of eight. He officially played for the Exeter academy for eight years, but he rose through the ranks rather quickly. Ampadu made his U18 debut at the age of 14 and went on to play his first professional match just a year later. There, he became the club’s youngest ever player to win a Man of the Match award—a record he held until 2019.

A 15-year-old Man of the Match is enough to make many heads turn, especially those of some of England’s best scouts. Chelsea wasted no time securing the signature of the youngster; Ampadu inked a professional contract with the Blues in the summer of 2017. He spent much of the 2017/18 season splitting time between Chelsea’s youth sides and the first team. Antonio Conte handed the midfielder his debut in blue in September against Nottingham Forest. The appearance made Ampadu the first player born in the 2000s to play for the club. He was also the youngest debutant for the Blues in the last decade.

Ampadu finished the 2017/18 season with seven first team appearances across three competitions. Despite Conte’s sacking, Chelsea saw clear potential in Ampadu and signed him to a five-year extension just 12 months after his maiden appearance. His capability to play in defensive midfield or as a centerback made him one of Conte’s favorite young players, unfortunately Maurizio Sarri didn’t see him in the same light. Ampadu split time again between the senior side and developmental teams before Frank Lampard handed him his first loan away in 2019.

The Welsh international’s first loan was largely viewed as a failure due to his inability to break into the starting XI. He spent the season with the Bundesliga’s RB Leipzig, where Julian Nagelsmann had a previously established back line that included Dayot Upamecano. Ampadu made just three league appearances, but he did feature in three Champions League matches—including a stellar showing against Spurs in the Round of 16. Ampadu returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of the year where Lampard decided to send him out on loan once again.

Ampadu was handed a more favorable move the second time around, the 20-year-old joined Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United. The Blades enlisted the services of the youngster after a remarkable debut season in the Premier League. Unfortunately, the second campaign hasn’t been as kind to Sheffield United. Luckily enough, Ampadu has gotten a ton of minutes, despite a managerial change. He’s played 24 times in the Premier League and added another four showings in cup competitions. Ampadu’s loan is set to expire at the end of May.

This begs the question: what does Chelsea do with Ampadu this summer?

Verdict: Keep or loan

Ampadu’s versatility makes him a valuable asset for the Blues going forward. He’s incredibly experienced for a player of his age and the talent is obvious. Ampadu hopefully has a long Chelsea career ahead of him, and it could start as soon as next season. If not, the Blues should absolutely extend Ampadu—currently signed through 2023—before sending him out on loan again. A loan to a club like Aston Villa or Crystal Palace would do him the world of good, if not a larger club abroad. I personally believe Ampadu is ready to continue his Chelsea career, but Thomas Tuchel will ultimately be the one to decide what the future holds.

Chelsea loan army: Keep, loan or sell? Davide Zappacosta (Part 15). dark. Next

Remember to check back with The Pride of London each and every day as I dive into the largely uncharted world of Chelsea’s famous loan army. Part 17’s subject is midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

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