CONFIRMED: Chelsea complete surprise January deal

Chelsea have completed their first major outgoing transfer of January, with a deal having been struck with Juventus to sell the Serie A club Renato Veiga, according to reports in Italy.

Enzo Maresca is working to reduce the size of the squad he is working with at Stamford Bridge but so far no one has left Chelsea during the transfer period. Indeed, with Trevoh Chalobah and Aaron Anselmino returning from loans at Crystal Palace and Boca Juniors respectively, the Italian now has more players than before.

The Stamford Bridge club are working on a remedy and La Stampa reports they have struck a deal with Juventus for Veiga – with Chelsea set to benefit to the tune of €5 million in terms of a loan fee and on wages saved.

Veiga’s exit comes as a surprise, though. In the early days of the transfer window, it was strongly denied that he would be allowed to depart.

Juventus have had to push their way past Lazio to land the 21-year-old, whose versatility has impressed Maresca in the past.

The Chelsea boss said in October: “I just said to Renato, he has played already as a centre-back, a full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder. He has already played four or five positions.

“Today, if you just play one position, I don’t think it’s enough. You need to learn more positions.”

Veiga’s loan, which he wants because he is targeting a place at the 2026 World Cup, has been sanctioned with no purchase option in place, the BBC reports, meaning that he will return to Chelsea in the summer.

Veiga to get first-team chances

Although best known as a deep-lying playmaker, Juventus are believed to have signed Veiga with an eye on him playing as a centre-back. The BBC states that he is “keen” to play that role for Thiago Motta’s side.

Nevertheless, Juventus may not be finished in the Premier League market for January, with Lloyd Kelly of Newcastle being studied with an eye on a transfer while Austria international defender Kevin Danso of Ligue 1 side Lens has emerged as another possibility for the Bianconeri.

Veiga, who arrived at Chelsea in the summer for €14m from FC Basel, has played only 183 minutes of Premier League football, with this deal designed to give him valuable first-team minutes at a high level.