Home Premier League | News Chelsea Football Club News This Chelsea defender has moved to Stoke City

This Chelsea defender has moved to Stoke City

0
22-year-old Kurt Zouma has moved to Stoke City on a season-long loan.

The French International joined Chelsea in January of 2014 from Saint-Étienne and saw quite a bit of game time under then interim manager Guus Hiddink during the 2015-16 season. But his good run in the first team was cut short after he ruptured a ligament in his right knee during a match against Manchester United. This injury put the centre-back on the side lines for almost nine months and halted his progress in a very large way.

Before the start of the 2016-17 season, German club Schalke were interested in signing the youngster on a loan deal. But Chelsea rejected the offer ushering the fact that the club had full faith in the player. But Zouma found it really hard to regain his form and managed to start only 13 games in the whole of last season.

And now with the arrival of Antonio Rudiger, Zouma has fallen further down the pecking order. So the club has decided it is better to loan him out in order for him to get some much needed first team action.

By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 1 Everton 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Stoke City confirmed the move on Friday by releasing an official statement which read, “Stoke City are delighted to announce the signing of Kurt Zouma on a season-long loan from Premier League champions Chelsea,”

Stoke manager Mark Hughes also spoke about Zouma’s move to the bet365 stadium,

“Kurt is undoubtedly one of the most talented young defenders in the game, so naturally his arrival will enhance our playing squad for the forthcoming campaign.”

“We have prioritised adding further strength in depth to defensive positions this summer, and we have certainly done that by fending off any number of clubs who were all interested in taking Kurt on loan.”

“He first caught my attention as a 17-year-old during his time at St. Etienne, and in fact, I actually tried to sign him at that point in his career, but whilst that deal never materialised I am delighted to finally get the opportunity to work with him now.”

Read: Antonio Conte makes a shocking revelation.

Exit mobile version