Chelsea being forced to sell top youngsters due to Fifa’s new little-known loan limits with Xavier Mbuyamba latest exit
CHELSEA are reportedly set to sell some of their rising stars due to Fifa's new loan limits rule.
Reports suggest highly-rated youngster Xavier Mbuyamba has become the latest to leave the club with the Blues no longer able to use the loan market how they used to.
A new Fifa rule that came into effect at the beginning of July means clubs are no longer able to have more than eight players over the age of 21 out on loan at once.
Clubs will also be unable to loan in more than eight players at any one time.
The rule could have major implications for teams across Europe and how they develop young talent.
It is expected to be a particular problem for Chelsea, who have become reliant on the loan market to develop players before selling them on for big money.
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Last summer, Chelsea had at least 33 players out on loan.
In 2019, this figure was believed to have been 41 who were temporarily at other clubs.
Chelsea journalist Nizaar Kinsella reports that Mbuyamba is set to leave, despite being well-rated at the club.
: "Chelsea have agreed to sell Xavier Mbuyamba (among other overseas loanees) as FIFA loan limits are placed on overseas loans."
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He later added that the club the Blues were selling to remained "undecided" but suggested there could be some interest from the Netherlands, where Mbuyamba comes from.
Chelsea signed the 20-year-old from Barcelona in 2020 but he did not make a senior appearance during his time at Stamford Bridge.
He did train with the senior team however and even earned comparisons to Liverpool defender and countryman Virgil van Dijk.
There was also interest from Italian club Hellas Verona on recruiting him for a loan deal.
Other young stars who have left recently after spending years on loan include Jake Clarke-Salter, Charly Musonda and Izzy Brown.