Chelsea's bomb-squad player secures £20,000,000 exit in transfer deal

Enzo Maresca's persistence has paid off, as David Datro Fofana will be departing Chelsea after talks for several potential transfers collapsed.

Fofana was one of over a dozen players exiled from the first-team by Maresca and told they had no future at Stamford Bridge.

Much of the ‘bomb-squad’ were able to secure moves away before the UK transfer deadline in August including Raheem Sterling, Conor Gallagher and Romelu Lukaku.

But several were unable to find a new club in time and while the manager is willing to give some players like Carney Chukwuemeka another chance, Fofana and Ben Chilwell remain banished.

Several clubs were reportedly interested in signing the striker on loan including Leicester but no move materialised.

With the transfer window still open in several other countries, Chelsea continued to look for a way to offload Fofana, who only joined the club in January 2023.

It seemed they had finally agreed to send him to AEK Athens, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute after the Greek club attempted to change the terms of the loan.

But less than 24 hours after that debacle, the Blues have managed to secure a transfer for the 21-year-old who will now be loaned to Turkish side Goztepe.

According to the Independent, the conditions of the loan are similar to the one that would have seen him move to Athens, with an option to buy worth £20million and a clause that allows Chelsea to re-call him in January.

Fofana has made just four appearances for Chelsea since his £10.2m move from Molde, and failed to shine during loan spells at Union Berlin and Burnley last season, scoring just six goals in 32 appearances.

But he should at least get some game time in Turkey, where the transfer window closes on Friday night, unlike Chilwell who is set to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Despite being left out of their Conference League squad, the left-back is hopeful he can still play a part in the Blues’ domestic campaign with their final Premier League squad set to be named on Friday.

Maresca’s side will next be in action on Saturday night when they travel to Bournemouth.

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