Chelsea To Send Ethan Ampadu On Loan

By Max Wise

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that teenage Wales international Ethan Ampadu will depart the club on loan for the upcoming season.

Ampadu has not travelled with the Chelsea squad for their pre-season tour of Japan, where they will play Kawasaki Frontale and Barcelona, in order to sort out his immediate short-term future.

The 18-year-old made just five appearances for Chelsea last season but not a single one of them came in the Premier League.

Aston Villa have been touted as the most possible destination for Ampadu, with the newly-promoted side hoping to use assistant manager John Terry’s links to Chelsea to secure a deal for the youngster.

Lampard is a big fan of Ampadu as he tried to sign him during his time at Derby County, and he has sanctioned a move for the former Exeter City man to gain more first team experience.

“Ethan is not here as we’re looking at the possibility of him going on loan for the season,” Lampard said on Tuesday after arriving in Japan.

“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, I have to think of the bigger picture and the interests of Ethan and of Chelsea.

“The idea that he could play a lot of games somewhere is good for him and we haven’t brought him here while that is up in the air.’

Ampadu joined Chelsea from Exeter City in 2017 and has made eight appearances for the Wales national team.