Chelsea add another player to Pochettino’s squad, Romano announces

Robin Bairner

• 22 Jan 2024 07:39 GMT
• 3 min read

Chelsea have increased the size of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad once again by recalling youngster Diego Moreira back from his loan deal at Lyon, Fabrizio Romano has announced.

Moreira arrived at Chelsea on a free transfer from Benfica but was quickly moved on to the Ligue 1 side, where he struggled to make an impression over the course of a five-month stay.

He featured on nine occasions for OL, starting on three, but failed to score a goal or register an assist with the French club.

The 19-year-old was a victim of the turbulence that Lyon have suffered this season, which has seen them already sack two head coaches as they face a surprise relegation battle from Ligue 1.

Romano announced: “Diego Moreira leaves Olympique Lyon via break clause into loan deal.

“Portuguese winger returns to Chelsea as he will work under Mauricio Pochettino starting on Monday.”

Diego Moreira’s future at Chelsea

Moreira has already been on the bench once for the Blues this season in the Premier League but was an unused substitute against Luton in August, a fixture the Stamford Bridge side was 3-0.

Having featured in the EFL Cup for the club, however, he will be unable to complete another loan deal, having turned out for two different teams this season.

Chelsea clearly feel that he is better developing on the fringes of their squad instead of battling for pitch time at a club fighting relegation and looking unstable.

Data analytics firm SciSports suggest that the teenager will struggle to make the grade at Chelsea.

It suggests that the Portugal U20 international only has the ability to become a backup player at Stamford Bridge, albeit Moreira did not get enough Ligue 1 minutes at Lyon to provide an accurate analysis of where his game currently stands.

He joins Andre Santos and David Datro Fofana in returning to the club after failed loan spells, albeit the latter has moved to Burnley on another temporary move.