Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher has taken to the Premier League in impressive fashion, starring for Crystal Palace in what is just his second season in the top flight.
The 21-year-old came through the Blues ’ famous Cobham academy, where some of the best players in English football and the world have been developed.
In that time, the youngster has gone on to be loaned out to Charlton and Swansea City in the Championship, before making the step up to the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion last season.
The Baggies were unable to stay in the division, but Gallagher still impressed with his tenacity and energy in the middle of the park.
Now with former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira at Palace, the England international has gone on to score six in his first 16 appearances for the Eagles and earning an England men’s senior call-up and debut.
A lot of his development has been down to the great academy system, but also the ability to loan him out for experience.
With that all said, football.london takes a look at five of the best loan deals involving Chelsea players.
Mason Mount - Derby
Mason Mount moved to Derby County in 2018 to play under Blues legend Frank Lampard, who had only just taken the helm at Pride Park.
The midfielder had proven why he was so highly thought of, scoring on his debut against Reading as well as a second career hat-trick against Bolton Wanderers.
His injury that kept him out for a period was a huge blow to the Rams, who managed to finish in the Championship play-offs, but fell at the final hurdle.
Mount then went back to Stamford Bridge, but so too did Lampard, who gave the youngster his Chelsea debut. Since then, it has been a launchpad to being a mainstay for both the Blues and England.
Reece James - Wigan
Another of the 2018 loan crop, Reece James set the Championship alight at Wigan Athletic in the season he was there.
It was the full-back ’s first taste of senior football, but he took to it well, driving down the right flank to wreak havoc for the Latics.
The 22-year-old went on to scoop three end of season awards at the club, such was his influence on the club in such a short period.
James won the Player of the Year, the Player’s Player of the Year and the Goal of the Season for a fantastic strike against Bristol City.
The next season, he was a breakthrough for Lampard amid a transfer ban that meant there was much more reliance on youth. That faith was repaid and he has become a key player for the Blues since.
Trevoh Chalobah - Lorient
Trevoh Chalobah has been a recent breakthrough into the Chelsea first-team, playing in a back three when called upon this season.
However, no place will have been quite so influential in him fitting into that role as French club Lorient, where he regularly played at centre-back in a three.
In his impressive loan stint at the club, the 22-year-old didn’t miss a single minute of action from February to May and his goal in a 1-1 draw on the final day meant that the Ligue 1 club survived the drop.
Chalobah then impressed Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel in pre-season, earning a start in the UEFA Super Cup final and has been a feature in the side up until his injury against Watford.
Tammy Abraham - Aston Villa
Tammy Abraham made the switch to Villa Park in 2018, proving he could score goals at Championship level, but perhaps not quite showing whether he could make the step up or not while at Swansea City.
His 25 goals in 37 Championship appearances under Dean Smith showed he was certainly up for the challenge, helping the Villains win the play-off final and reaching the top flight once again.
Abraham then went on to play under Lampard the next season at Stamford Bridge, impressing and earning the No. 9 shirt.
However, he struggled to find a place under Tuchel and was then moved on to AS Roma, where he has continued to develop under former Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
Fikayo Tomori - Derby
Fikayo Tomori joined Chelsea academy teammate Mount to Derby County in 2018 to play under Lampard.
Tomori was often played at right-back for Hull City the year before, but really shone at centre-back for the Rams.
His pace to be able to get back and win a challenge from a seemingly impossible position won over many of the fans, who voted him as Player of the Year.
The 23-year-old, much like Mount and James, then went on to make his debut under Lampard at Chelsea the next season.
Despite impressing, he was then sent on loan to AC Milan, where he then moved permanently in the summer.
Tomori has since become a stalwart in the Rossoneri defence, performing to a high level in both the Serie A and European competitions.
That was a list of just five players who have impressed and gone on to do well following loan moves away from Stamford Bridge, but only time will tell if other, even more impressive loan moves will be enjoyed by promising Blues youngsters.
With the likes of Armando Broja and Levi Colwill stamping their mark on loan this season, they could well feature on this list or in the first team very soon.
