Chelsea agree wonderkid loan exit after Portsmouth medical
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is set to leave Chelsea for Portsmouth after the two clubs completed an agreement over a season-long loan.
BBC Portsmouth reporter Andrew Moon revealed on X that the deal is done, with terms agreed and the 17-year-old having passed his medical. Portsmouth are now preparing to announce the move.
Chelsea have therefore finalised the Kavuma-McQueen loan after several days of negotiations over the winger’s next step.
ReadChelsea reported earlier this month that Portsmouth were in advanced talks with the Blues, although Kavuma-McQueen had yet to make a final decision at that stage.
Kavuma-McQueen loan gives winger major senior opportunity
Kavuma-McQueen has spent pre-season around Xabi Alonso’s senior squad and featured during Chelsea’s tour of Australia and Asia.
The teenager started against Western Sydney Wanderers and created Chelsea’s opening goal for Dastan Satpayev during a 6-4 victory. ReadChelsea’s match report detailed how Kavuma-McQueen split the defence before Satpayev finished the chance.
He also made his senior Chelsea debut last season after developing into one of Cobham’s highest-rated attacking prospects.
The move to Portsmouth should now provide a very different challenge. Instead of spending another campaign largely in academy football, Kavuma-McQueen will have the opportunity to compete for Championship minutes under John Mousinho.
Chelsea have increasingly looked towards senior loans for their academy players this summer. Jesse Derry and Genesis Antwi are among those already sent elsewhere to continue their development, while Portsmouth have been working on the Kavuma-McQueen deal since before Chelsea completed their tour.
For Alonso, the decision also begins to reduce the number of youngsters around his first-team group as the Premier League season approaches. ReadChelsea reported on Monday that Chelsea’s senior group is now coming together at Cobham following the return of several World Cup players.
Kavuma-McQueen’s move has not yet been formally announced by either club, but the agreement and medical are complete. Portsmouth confirmation is now the remaining step.
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