Jeremie Boga and Granada: A Loan Match Made in Heaven for the Chelsea Youngster

Chelsea are a club frequently mocked for their “loan army”—a so-called horde of players, ranging from teenage years to mid-20s, spread across the world playing football in temporary destinations.

In this past transfer window, the Blues sent a whopping 38 out to play football away from the confines of Stamford Bridge and Cobham, with the likelihood that each might return to play first-team football under head coach Antonio Conte varying greatly.

There are those who who no fan truly believes they will see turn out in Chelsea blue, such as Jamal Blackman or Lucas Piazon. These individuals’ ships have sadly long since sailed, and it has become clear over the years they will never make the breakthrough. A sale beckons; it will happen when it suits the club.

Then there are those who are still within a shout of returning and impacting, such as Nathan Ake, Abdul Baba Rahman and Kenedy. They’re not perfect right now and aren’t good enough to play for Chelsea, but with some refinement and work, perhaps they can claim a squad number and play a role in the future.

And then there’s the third category; the “special” category. In here are players whose promise and potential supporters hold close, praying they might return a better footballer, capable of breaching the setup.

A good loan away from the club for a year could easily be the catalyst for something great, and they might—just might—be the ones to end John Terry’s long run as the last player to rise from academy to the first team (and stay there).

Nineteen-year-old Jeremie Boga falls firmly in the latter category.

Bowling-Ball Dribbler

If you’re a defender, the sight of Boga dribbling toward you with the ball at his feet will not be a welcome one.

He is a little bowling ball on the move, combining speed and power with refined grace when twisting and turning. Not only is he difficult to track when feinting left and right, but he’s also got a third option of running through you—something few in his position can boast.

His first instinct is to look up and locate space to run into. There is a slight issue here in that he rarely looks to pass first and almost insists on dribbling just a little bit before handing the ball off, but it’s rare that it costs his team. His positive way of using the ball …

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