Fulham have signed Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan from rivals Chelsea as part of a dramatic late triple swoop on transfer deadline day.
Loftus-Cheek makes the short trip from Stamford Bridge to Craven Cottage, where he will remain for the rest of the 2020/21 Premier League season.
The 24-year-old - who has 10 senior caps for England and one eye on next summer's delayed European Championship - has not featured for Chelsea since their opening win at Brighton amid greater competition for places following the Blues' summer recruitment drive, with Frank Lampard eager for him to be given the opportunity to play on a regular basis.
Loftus-Cheek will be tasked with helping to revive the fortunes of a Fulham side that have struggled badly since their return to the top-flight, losing all of their opening four matches and shipping 11 goals to sit rock bottom of the table.
"I’m really happy to come ‘next door,’ if you will!" he told the Cottagers' official website.
"I watched Fulham at the start of the season and they looked like they’re playing decent football. With this manager [Scott Parker], I think I can get back to my best football.
"That’s the main thing for me, to find my form and help this team win games.”
Loftus-Cheek's arrival was confirmed over 90 minutes after Monday's 11pm BST international transfer deadline, with Fulham having already confirmed two new arrivals before that to take their summer tally to 11 with the domestic window still open until October 16.
Parker has understandably sought to address his team's defensive issues with the loan signing of Lyon's Denmark international Joachim Andersen and a permanent deal for Manchester City centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, who has signed a three-year contract that includes the option for a further 12 months.
