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Chelsea wonderkid Subuloye attracts January loan interest

·By Paul Vegas
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Chelsea wonderkid Subuloye attracts January loan interest

Chelsea/X.com

Chelsea have decided to loan Under-21 captain Olutayo Subuloye in January, with interest building from clubs in England and Europe.

The 18-year-old centre-back has attracted enquiries from several European clubs, while English sides are also expected to explore a move during the winter window, reports the London Evening Standard.

Subuloye has been on the fringes of Xabi Alonso’s first-team squad this season and trained with the senior group at Cobham during the international break. He played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Portsmouth.

The defender also travelled with Chelsea for their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, making 179 minutes of appearances. He played the full match against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim in a 3-3 draw.

Subuloye was appointed Chelsea Under-21 captain after helping the club’s Under-18s win both southern and national titles last season. He has continued to develop rapidly and is regarded as one of the academy’s leading defensive prospects.

The England youth international is also eligible to represent Nigeria through his parents and is targeting a competitive first-team debut this season, with the Carabao Cup and FA Cup providing potential opportunities.

Chelsea extended Subuloye’s contract in January, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2030, underlining the club’s confidence in his long-term prospects.

His versatility is another attraction. Subuloye joined Chelsea from Brighton at Under-12 level as a midfielder before moving into central defence, where his leadership qualities have become increasingly prominent.

He has also impressed away from football, achieving an A* in business studies and earning praise from Chelsea staff for his application and attitude.

A loan move would give Subuloye the opportunity to gain senior experience while allowing Chelsea to carefully manage his route towards the first team. The decision reflects the progress he has made through the academy and the growing demand for his services.