There’s been a various mix of success so far this season with the Chelsea players out on loan, and one individual is going through a frustrating and strange period.
The room didn’t exist in the Chelsea squad for everyone to stay at the club in the 2024/25 campaign, which is why plenty of players left Stamford Bridge to go and get minutes elsewhere.
In particular, many Chelsea youngsters were sent on loan to various clubs to help their development. Hopefully, they can benefit from the loan system in the same way that Reece James and Levi Colwill did in the past.
On top of all the developing youngsters, the Blues loaned out more experienced faces such as Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix and Axel Disasi in the January transfer window. Incidentally, Villa fans want to sign Disasi permanently after his impressive start with them.
Chelsea loanee Caleb Wiley still yet to make Watford debut
It’s been an up and down time for Caleb Wiley since he joined Chelsea in a £8.5m deal (BBC) from MLS side Atlanta United in July 2024.
Wiley prioritised a transfer to Chelsea despite rival interest from AC Milan and Juventus.
Back in the summer, the Blues sent the 20-year-old defender to sister club Strasbourg in France on a season-long loan. However, his loan was cut short in the recent January window so he could complete a move to Watford in the English Championship.
The United States international, who has three caps for his country, moved to Vicarage Road carrying an injury that’s kept him sidelined since November. Unfortunately, he’s still not played a game in Watford colours.
| Club | Appearances |
| Strasbourg | 6 |
| Watford | 0 |
At the start of February, Watford boss Tom Cleverley admitted that the Chelsea loanee wouldn’t be training with his side for a couple of weeks. He said via Watford’s official website: “It’ll be a couple of weeks before we see him (Wiley) in training so that’s a known quantity and we’re fine with that.”
We’re still waiting for some clarity on when the attack-minded left-back can play for Watford. But at this moment, his loan deal to join them does feel a bit bizarre.
Watford, who sit 10th in the Championship, only have 13 games remaining in the 2024/25 campaign. If they sneak into the play-offs, there will be a maximum of three extra matches on top of that in May.
The reality is that Wiley’s time at Strasbourg has been interrupted mid-season while he’s recovering from an injury to join Watford, where he’s going to have zero time to really adjust or make a significant impact.
We’d suggest that the American youngster should go out on loan again next season to the Championship before he’s considered for Chelsea’s squad.
Predicting three Chelsea loanees who could break into first-team squad next season
On-loan Strasbourg midfielder Andrey Santos, 20, is probably the pick of the bunch from the long list of Chelsea loanees. It feels like Brazilian youngster possesses the skills to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge next season because he’s been outstanding in Ligue 1.
It’s already claimed that Chelsea have earmarked Santos for next season’s squad despite plenty of transfer interest in him.
Elsewhere, Blues loanee Lesley Ugochukwu is showing glimpses of quality during his season-long loan with Premier League struggles Southampton. Perhaps the 20-year-old defensive midfielder could add some genuine cover for Romeo Lavia next season at Chelsea.
Finally, Chelsea’s academy graduate Alfie Gilchrist, 21, has really impressed at Sheffield United in the Championship. The versatile defender, who can play centre-half or right-back, may be a decent option to consider as squad depth for the backline.
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