RB Leipzig confirm season-long loan move for versatile Chelsea starlet Ethan Ampadu
RB Leipzig have completed the signing of versatile Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu on a season-long loan deal.
This will be the 18-year-old’s first loan move since joining the Blues from boyhood club Exeter City in 2017.
Ampadu to the Bundesliga: Five things to know…
- Earmarked as a future Chelsea star, Ampadu is highly thought of in west London.
- He has already been capped eight times by Wales and has 12 senior Chelsea appearances to his name.
- Ampadu’s contract expires next summer and he will now spend a season on loan with RB Leipzig.
- Chelsea boss Lampard has previously revealed that he tried to take him on loan at Derby last season.
- Ampadu featured in Chelsea’s first pre-season match but will now spend time away from the club.
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Tipped for big things at Stamford Bridge, the eight-time Wales international has become Die Roten Bullen’s fourth summer signing, and joins up with talented coach Julian Nagelsmann at the Red Bull Arena.
Having started in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw against Bohemians in the club’s opening pre-season match of their Ireland tour, many had considered that Ampadu would have played some part in Frank Lampard’s maiden campaign next term.
However, the teenager will now join the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Luan Candido and Hannes Wolf in Saxony, and he spoke of his delight in the prospect of donning the No 26 jersey for the German club.
He told the club’s official website: “I am very happy to be at RB Leipzig and start the season with the team.
🆕 Transfer-News: #RBLeipzig leiht Ethan #Ampadu aus! 🆕
Der 18-jährige Innenverteidiger wechselt von @ChelseaFC auf Leihbasis bis 2020 zu den Roten Bullen🔴⚪. Der Waliser erhält die Rückennummer 26.
Welcome to Leipzig, @ethanamp4!
Alle Infos 👉 https://t.co/BYBxySlyJI pic.twitter.com/YSCQWZVlg5
— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) July 22, 2019
“I want to get to know the team as quickly as possible and integrate myself.
“I’ve been following the club in recent years and saw how fantastic young players have come to develop here and what potential there is in this club.
“So it’s the perfect step for me. “
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Lampard gives thoughts on loan move
Ahead of the new season, Lampard has revealed he is “disappointed” that Ampadu won’t feature in his first-team plans, but praised his move to the Bundesliga as a huge step in his development.
He said: “I tried to sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year so I’m a big fan, but with the minutes he played last year, in the interest of Ethan and of Chelsea, the idea he can play a lot of games somewhere could be good for him.
“I really wanted to work with Ethan this year.
“That’s a slight disappointment, but it’s to benefit of him. In midfield and defence we have a lot of quality, so each player is a case by case.”
