Chelsea have announced that one of their midfielders will join Serie A giants AC Milan on an initial season-long loan.
France international Tiemoue Bakayoko has agreed to go out on loan to the Rossoneri, who will have an option to buy the star for a reported £35.5 million (R656 million) next season.
The 23-year-old was signed by the Blues from Ligue 1 side Monaco for £40 million (R739 million) at the beginning of the 2017/18 campaign and has made 29 league appearances for the London club since.
"AC Milan are pleased to announce the signing of French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Chelsea FC. The 23-year-old joins the club on a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent.," a statement on Milan's official website read.
"Born 17 August 1994 in Paris, Bakayoko’s career started in his native France with Rennes before taking him to Monaco and Chelsea. The midfielder has two major honours to his name, winning the league title in 2017 with Monaco and then the FA Cup with Chelsea the year after.
"Bakayoko will be unveiled to the media in a press conference on Friday, 17 August."
With the recent arrivals of Jorginho from Napoli and Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge, the Frenchman has slipped down the pecking order, forcing him to seek first-team football elsewhere.
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The defensive midfielder made 43 appearances for the Blues across all competitions last season, scoring three goals and assisting a further three strikes.
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