Chelsea Loan Rankings: Andrey Santos Finally Released from His Loan Spell

Chelsea's relationship with the loan system has been a mixed bag, with only recent seasons yielding significant benefits as some of their top young talents have excelled in the first team. However, the club's history in the noughties and 2010s saw many promising players slipping through the cracks due to the relentless pursuit of immediate success under Roman Abramovich.

Fortunately, the current landscape is different, and players like Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Trevoh Chalobah serve as living proof that there is a pathway to the first team for those in the loan army. With the club's renewed focus on youth development, there are now opportunities for players to prove themselves elsewhere and make their mark at Stamford Bridge.

On the other hand, for more experienced players, the loan system often provides an escape route—a chance to rejuvenate their careers in new surroundings, without any expectation or hope of returning to Chelsea.

As the season progresses, Betimate evaluates and ranks Chelsea's current group of loaned players.

16. Andrey Santos (Nottingham Forest) - 0/10 ↔️

Initially, it appeared that talented young midfielder Santos would be part of Chelsea's first-team plans this season under manager Mauricio Pochettino. However, the club made a late decision to send him out on loan during the transfer window.

Unfortunately, things have not gone as expected for Santos at Nottingham Forest. He has frequently been left out of the Premier League matchday squads and only made his league debut in late October, featuring for just seven minutes against Liverpool. Since early November, he has not been included in any matchday squads.

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has commented that there are not many players of Santos' age playing in the Premier League, which raises questions about why they signed him in the first place. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that Chelsea has decided to recall him in January.

15. Lewis Hall (Newcastle) - 3/10 ⬇️

The loan deal that sent Hall to Newcastle, with an obligation to buy, caused discontent among Chelsea fans. However, the young and versatile player has not exactly thrived in his new environment. Despite this, due to injuries depleting Newcastle's squad, he is now starting to receive more opportunities after barely featuring earlier.

He managed to score an impressive goal against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, but he was also at fault in the Champions League loss against Borussia Dortmund. His playing time in the Premier League has been limited and infrequent.

14. Charlie Webster (Heerenveen) - 3/10 ↔️

Webster's time at struggling Heerenveen has been a tumultuous rollercoaster ride thus far. After a brief appearance as a substitute, the midfielder scored on his full Eredivisie debut. However, his enthusiasm was short-lived as he was promptly sent off for a late lunge. Since then, the 19-year-old has had a bit-part role, limited to cameo appearances off the bench.

13. Diego Moreira (Lyon) - 3/10 ⬆️

Lyon is currently enduring a nightmarish season as they find themselves battling against relegation. Amidst this difficult period, no one at the club is enjoying themselves.

The teenage winger, who arrived at Lyon from Benfica during the summer, made a positive impression off the bench on his debut. He subsequently started in the defeat against Brest in September. However, he then faced a spell of being sidelined for several weeks. Following the sacking of Fabio Grosso, he regained his place in the first-team and started matches against Lille and Marseille. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to make a significant impact amidst Lyon's struggles.

12. Gabriel Slonina (Eupen) - 4/10 ⬇️

Slonina, a promising United States prospect, is currently on loan at Eupen, a side that is facing overall struggles, which might be affecting his performance. Initially, he made a positive impression as the first-choice goalkeeper for Eupen in Belgium. However, the team's form has declined, with only one win in 13 league games.

On a positive note, the 19-year-old managed to keep a clean sheet in a crucial victory against Charleroi. In terms of shot-stopping ability, his post-shot xG minus goals allowed, which is a reliable metric for measuring performance, stands at -1.4. Additionally, he has a save percentage of 68%.

11. Mason Burstow (Sunderland) - 4/10 ⬇️

At the beginning of the season, Burstow had a few chances to showcase his abilities in the Chelsea first team. However, he was subsequently sent on loan to Sunderland. Since joining Sunderland, the tall and agile striker has yet to find the back of the net. Initially, he started every game after his arrival, but due to the team's poor form, he lost his place in October. He had to wait until early December to earn another start, only to then be left out of the squad for three consecutive games.

10. Cesare Casadei (Leicester City) - 5/10 ⬇️

The Italian midfielder made an impressive start for Leicester, scoring a stoppage-time winner as a substitute on the opening day against Cardiff. However, since then, that moment has been the highlight of his performances.

Casadei has recently alternated between starting matches and being on the bench. His performances have been somewhat lackluster, and he himself has acknowledged the need for improvement. As Leicester is currently on a good run of form, he is finding it challenging to secure a place in the starting lineup.

9. Tino Anjorin (Portsmouth) - 5/10 ⬇️

Despite being just 21 years old, Anjorin has already become a seasoned participant in Chelsea's loan system. Currently recovering from a significant ankle injury, he is being carefully reintegrated into the team at Portsmouth, who currently lead the League One table. Following a series of brief appearances as a substitute, the attacking midfielder made his first start since September 2022 in early October.

However, after scoring a goal with a fantastic finish against Reading, Anjorin has unfortunately faced another period of being sidelined. Nevertheless, his manager has assured that the injury is not severe enough to warrant cutting short his loan spell.

8. David Datro Fofana (Union Berlin) - 5/10 ⬆️

Despite Union Berlin's poor start to the season, Fofana has been consistently given opportunities to perform. However, he has not made a significant impact. The striker has been dealing with personal issues and found himself in trouble after refusing to shake hands with his former manager when being substituted in late October.

On a positive note, he managed to score an important goal against Napoli in the Champions League. However, this goal did not lead to a resurgence in his form. In fact, he has not featured in Union's last three games, suggesting that his recent appearances may have been due to a lack of alternatives rather than exceptional performance.

7. Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray) - 6/10 ⬆️

Ziyech's hopes of leaving Stamford Bridge were dashed when his proposed transfer to Paris Saint-Germain fell through in January. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to escape Chelsea's injury woes. His Galatasaray debut was delayed as he worked on regaining match fitness. However, once he got on the pitch, he made an immediate impact, scoring goals and providing assists in consecutive league games.

However, his momentum was halted as he suffered a foot issue that sidelined him. He eventually returned to action and played a crucial role in Galatasaray's draw against Manchester United in the Champions League, scoring twice and providing an assist. He followed that up with a goal in the league, but unfortunately, he suffered another knock that forced him out of action once again.

6. Bashir Humphreys (Swansea City) - 6/10 ⬇️

Humphreys, a member of Chelsea's loan army, has been making a strong case for himself to break into the first team. He has become a crucial part of Swansea's defensive line, earning praise from his former manager Michael Duff for his excellent mentality.

The standout moment of his loan spell at Swansea so far is undoubtedly his late winner against Norwich, where he displayed the finishing skills of a striker to score his first senior goal. However, his performance in the defeat against Leeds was not up to par, and as a result, his starting position is now under threat. Swansea has struggled recently, with just two wins in their last 11 games.

5. Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town) - 6/10 ↔️

Hutchinson has faced difficulties in securing regular starts recently as Ipswich Town competes with Leicester at the top of the Championship. Despite this, the former Arsenal winger has featured in almost every game and managed to score a goal against Middlesbrough in early December. As a result, he earned a start in the team's significant victory over Watford, which was also enjoyed by Ed Sheeran. However, he was quickly relegated back to the bench afterward.

4. Angelo Gabriel (Strasbourg) - 6/10 ⬇️

Angelo quickly adapted to European football, impressing with his performances and earning accolades such as Strasbourg's Player of the Month and the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month awards for September. The 18-year-old showcased the qualities that convinced Chelsea to invest £13 million to secure his signature from Santos.

Unfortunately, his loan club's form has declined recently, and his progress was hampered by an adductor injury. As a result, Angelo lost his spot in the starting lineup during a period of five winless games. However, he made a positive impact as a substitute by providing an assist against Stade Reims.

3. Harvey Vale (Bristol Rovers) - 7/10 ⬆️

At the beginning, Vale faced difficulties in finding his position at Bristol Rovers. However, he eventually became a regular starter, albeit in the unfamiliar left-back role. His performances in that position impressed former manager Joey Barton, who even compared him to Chelsea legend Ashley Cole.

Despite Barton's departure, Vale has continued to excel and maintain his form. He has now been moved back to his natural wing position, and his experience playing at the back has improved his defensive abilities.

2. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Real Madrid) - 7/10 ↔️

Kepa eagerly embraced the opportunity to join Real Madrid on loan following Thibaut Courtois' ACL injury, and it has proven to be a fruitful decision for him. The goalkeeper has been impressive, achieving six clean sheets in 13 appearances. In La Liga, he has maintained a post-shot xG minus goals allowed of +2, indicating his shot-stopping ability, and boasts a save percentage of 77. As a result, there are reports that Real Madrid is interested in keeping him beyond his loan spell.

However, in November, Kepa suffered a muscle injury that kept him sidelined for a significant portion of time. During his absence, Andriy Lunin performed exceptionally well, which has subsequently kept Kepa out of the team even after he regained fitness. Now, the 29-year-old goalkeeper faces a challenge in reclaiming the No.1 position.

1. Romelu Lukaku (Roma) - 7/10 ↔️

It is clear that Lukaku's loan to Chelsea is more of a formality, as he is unlikely to ever play for the club again following a contentious and prolonged departure in the summer. However, Chelsea could use an in-form striker, and Lukaku is once again proving to be a top-class striker in Serie A under the guidance of Jose Mourinho at Roma.

After scoring five goals in his first six league games of the season, Lukaku's goal-scoring pace has slowed down somewhat. Nonetheless, he has continued to contribute, adding to his goal tally in the Europa League against Sheriff and scoring a well-executed header to finish off a fine team goal against Fiorentina. Unfortunately, in the dying moments of the match against Fiorentina, he received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, resulting in a suspension.