Loan for Loftus-Cheek

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has today joined fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace on a season-long loan.

The 21-year-old heads to Selhurst Park where he will work under the guidance of Frank de Boer, who took charge of the Eagles last month.

A product of our Academy, Loftus-Cheek made his Chelsea debut in a Champions League game against Sporting Lisbon in December 2014, with his first senior goal scored the following season in an FA Cup tie against Scunthorpe.

The arrival of Antonio Conte led to a change in position for Loftus-Cheek during the early part of last season, playing in a two-man attack as we beat Bristol Rovers in the League Cup. He also caught the eye with his displays in FA Cup wins over Peterborough and Brentford.

Injury ruled him out of the title run-in, but in total in 2016/17 he made 11 appearances and picked up a Premier League winners’ medal.

At international level, Loftus-Cheek has been a key performer for England Under-21s and he scored the decisive goal when they won the Toulon Tournament in 2016, impressing to such an extent he picked up the Player of the Tournament award. Unfortunately, the injury sustained towards the end of last season also ruled him out of the recent Euro Under-21 Championship finals.

Also, Danilo Pantic has joined Partizan Belgrade on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old Serbian midfielder returns to his homeland. Partizan won their league title last season and have entered the Champions League at the second qualifying round stage.