Chelsea have found a permanent exit for the midfielder.placeholder image
Chelsea have found a permanent exit for the midfielder. | Getty Images
Middlesbrough have beaten off competition from Championship rivals to sign the young Chelsea midfielder.
The first Chelsea sale of the Liam Rosenior era is set to see 20-year-old midfielder Leo Castledine head to Championship outfit Middlesbrough following his loan spell at Huddersfield Town.
The former England under-19 youth international had been loaned to the Accu Stadium last summer but a rampant run of form has led to another move this month. Castledine plundered 10 goals and picked up two assists in 23 League One outings and is now set to make the step up to the Championship.
The Huddersfield Town star has eight goals in his last 10 matches after an impressive run of form over the festive period, which included a brace against Port Vale in a 2-0 win on Boxing Day.
Chelsea and Middlesbrough agree deal for Leo Castledine
Castledine is expected to undergo a medical at the Riverside Stadium after an agreement was reached between Chelsea and Middlesbrough. The player had been subject to plenty of transfer speculation so far this month.
Taking to social media platform X on Thursday, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano gave the move his ‘here we go’ treatment. Suggesting imminent confirmation from the clubs, he wrote: “EXCLUSIVE: Middlesbrough agree deal to sign Leo Castledine from Chelsea on permanent move, here we go!
“#CFC accept permanent deal proposal with important sell-on clause included, all agreed with #Boro. Medical to follow soon.”
John Terry labels midfielder ‘magnet in the box’
A graduate of the Chelsea academy, Castledine had been on loan at Shrewsbury Town over the course of the 2024/25 campaign. The player only ever made one senior appearance for the Blues, which happened to come in a five minute cameo against Middlesbrough in the 2024 Carabao Cup semi-final.
During his rise through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, former Chelsea Development Coach compared the player to Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher. He said: "In terms of energy, he is similar to Mount and Gallagher. I think he has more elements of Conor. He can be very dangerous when he arrives in the box. He is definitely going to be a goal-scoring midfielder."
It seems unlikely that Rosenior would have ever been planning to use the academy product in his immediate Chelsea plans but confirmation of the star’s departure in the coming days would make him the club’s first sale since the change in manager.
In other news, Charlton Athletic boost as 'incredible' Chelsea player suspended for FA Cup tie.
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