Christian Atsu has left Chelsea to join La Liga side Malaga on loan for the remainder of the season. The Ghana international signed for Chelsea in 2013 on a five-year contract, for a reported £3.5 million fee from Portuguese side FC Porto but is yet to make even 1 first-team appearance for the Blues.
According to Sky Sports, Malaga beat off competition from La Liga rivals Levante and Rayo Vallencano and it is believed that the amount of first-team football that they are going to offer him helped seal the deal. This deal comes as a surprise as just 24-hours earlier Atsu told BBC World Service that he would sign for Leavnte.
Atsu spent the first-half of the season on loan at AFC Bournemouth but he did not make a single league appearance for them and featured just twice for the Cherries in the Capital One Cup.
A statement on the Chelsea’s official website earlier today confirmed the move:
“Christian Atsu has today joined Spanish side Malaga on loan until the end of the season.
The Ghana international, 24, spent the first half of the season on loan with Bournemouth in the Premier League, and will now continue his development in La Liga for the rest of the 2015/16 campaign.”
The winger has already spent his first two seasons away from the club with year-long loan spells at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem and Everton, where he made five Premier League appearance in the 2014-15 season.
Atsu replaces Nordin Amrabat in the Malaga squad following the Moroccan forward’s switch to Watford earlier in the transfer window.
Christian Atsu won’t be the only departure from Chelsea this season with midfielder Ramires and striker Loic Remy also close to the exit door. While, Alexandre Pato is expected to be the club’s first signing of this window