Chelsea Sanction Latest League One Loan Exit Following Ishe Samuels-Smith Deal
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Chelsea are set to allow young midfielder Reggie Walsh to join Wigan Athletic on loan, marking their latest move to send their academy prospects to EFL sides.
The Blues have been very active in allowing their talents to gain senior footballing experience, with the latest move set to be Ishe Samuels-Smith, who is now set to join Notts County on a season-long loan.
Other members of their setup have also been handed temporary spells away from the club, with Kaiden Wilson heading to Rochdale and Ollie Harrison making a cross-London move to AFC Wimbledon.
Walsh Heads To Latics
The next on the conveyor belt away from Stamford Bridge this summer is Reggie Walsh, who is expected to sign a new contract in West London before joining Wigan Athletic on loan, as reported by BBC Sport’s Nizaar Kinsella.
Wigan Today has since followed up that initial report, revealing that Walsh has been a long-term target for Gary Caldwell, and is now set to head north and join up with the League One club after Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia and Australia has ended.
The two clubs have already conducted business this summer with the Blues signing Harrison Bettoni last month, handing Wigan a handsome fee for their development of the attacking midfielder.
Walsh has been on the fringes of the Chelsea first team for the past two seasons, with the 17-year-old making four senior appearances for the club, most recently in October during their 5-1 Champions League win over Ajax.
He was also a member of the Under-18s side which won the league last season, scoring seven times and providing two assists in nine games prior to his graduation to the Under-21s cohort.
Exciting Addition Ahead
Chelsea have always been top of the tree when it comes to their youth player development, and Wigan Athletic’s previous positive relationship with the Premier League club has earned them a deal to sign Reggie Walsh.
Reece James famously benefited from a spell in Lancashire earlier in his career which set him on the path to become one of England’s star players, and with the 17-year-old, they will be hoping they can match that feat.
While he is yet to be truly tested in senior football, a move to the League One club should earn him plenty of chances to feature and play regularly, but will face competition for places with Callum McManaman and Tobias Brennan also gunning for game time under Gary Caldwell.
Nevertheless, it should be an exciting and beneficial experience for Walsh, and a good showing for Wigan should earn the midfielder plenty of opportunities in the future to try and break through into Xabi Alonso’s plans.