After analysing the respective futures of Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill as the trio return to Cobham for pre-season, today we consider the fate of 21-year-old Wales international Ethan Ampadu - a versatile and dynamic player who spent the 21/22 season on loan with newly promoted Venezia FC in Serie A. This was the third loan spell for the player, after periods with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, and Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Ampadu joined Chelsea aged 16 in the summer of 2017 from Exeter City, and immediately saw involvement with the first-team squad. The youngster made his Premier League debut under Antonio Conte in December and played just under 400 minutes in the domestic cups, before picking up Europa League experience the following campaign under Maurizio Sarri, playing the full 90 minutes in the Group Stage dead rubber away at Vidi FC in Hungary.
Due to the fine form of both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger in defence, and the arrivals of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho in midfield, Ampadu joined RB Leipzig on loan for the 19/20 campaign - although had a disappointing season in Germany, featuring in only three of 34 available league games and struggling with a back injury.
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A season with Sheffield United followed, playing over 2,400 minutes across all competitions, a great improvement on the year before purely in terms of minutes in the tank, and ranking as the club’s best performer according to SofaScore in a poor season for the Blades as a club. Ampadu also exhibited his versatility by contributing in roles across both defence and midfield.
His move ahead of the 21/22 season was hugely important for the youngster - after penning a new three-year deal with Chelsea and links to Newcastle United he eventually joined Italians Venezia FC on deadline day after the arrival of Saul on loan, the club returning to Serie A for the first time since 2002.
After missing the first three league games with the squad, Ampadu became a mainstay in the first-team, featuring in 29 of the remaining 33 league games, starting 26 - only missing four due to suspensions.
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Despite Venezia being relegated to Serie B with just six wins, they were only four points from safety after the final gameweek. Ampadu showed maturity and experience for a player who only turned 21 last September, playing the third most minutes overall within the squad, a huge uptick in his involvement at both Sheffield United and, more specifically, Leipzig.
One of Ampadu’s best qualities is his versatility - and the Welshman was able to express this at Venezia, the Italian side utilising a range of formations throughout the season. The club’s official Twitter account even tweeted in April: 'Lost count of how many times Ampadu has played multiple roles in the same match. Pretty remarkable'. This can be seen with a quick glance at his heat map for last season.
In 36 games across all competitions, Venezia set up with a back four - allowing Ampadu to operate in a deep midfield role akin to Jorginho, collecting the ball from the defenders and looking to launch attacks with long-range passes.
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When compared to other midfielders in Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues, Ampadu ranked in the top 20 percent for both progressive passing distance per 90 (260m) and crosses into the penalty area per 90 (2.0). Ampadu also ranked fifth in the squad for accurate passes per 90 with 28.1 - Thomas Tuchel values passing vision and range in his defensive players, and Ampadu’s statistics bode well in this sense. In fact, Ampadu’s 0.5 key passes per 90 was superior to Andreas Christensen’s 0.3 - with the Welshman potentially replacing the Dane in the squad ahead of next season.
Venezia also set up with a back three on nine occasions - Ampadu often slotting in at right centre-back, a role very similar to that of Trevoh Chalobah at Stamford Bridge, as well as playing two games at right-back. Combining silky and expansive passing with a rugged physical element, the youngster ranked second in the squad for interceptions per 90 (1.8) and first for tackles per 90 (2.3) - ninth highest in Serie A for the latter metric. His 5.17 tackles and interceptions per 90 was also an increase on the 4.35 he registered with Sheffield United.
Across the board he was ranked as Venezia’s fifth best performer by SofaScore, the third best by WhoScored, and the best in the squad by Football Critic - a superb feat for a young midfielder playing abroad in a side battling relegation from the outset.
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Speaking to Welsh outlet Y Clwb Pêl-droed this month, Ampadu spoke of his gratitude regarding his year in Italy, saying: "I have learned a lot. The experience was to go there and learn a lot which I felt like I did. I played a lot of football. Some positive performances and a lot to take from it."
Younger than both Reece James and Mason Mount, and only two months older than Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ampadu has now racked up 81 senior appearances to date, as well as 35 games internationally for Wales. These games have come in three different leagues, with minutes in the Europa League and Champions League, and a huge range of defensive and midfield positions.
What does the future hold for Ethan Ampadu? With Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger leaving Chelsea on free deals, Cesar Azpilicueta constantly linked with a move to Barcelona, Jorginho’s contract expiring next summer and N’golo Kante battling recurring injury problems, there is certainly a role in the squad for Ampadu next season if the youngster seizes the opportunity in pre-season.
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His versatility, work-rate and possessional abilities under pressure could catch the eye of Thomas Tuchel, however it is far from a certainty that Ampadu will remain a Chelsea player come September.
The question is two-fold. Firstly, Chelsea may choose to cash in on a player valued at £11.7 million by TransferMarkt to fund other moves this summer - with Ampadu linked to Bournemouth, Norwich City and Swansea, amongst other clubs.
Also, after getting a taste of regular first-team minutes in Italy, Ampadu may not be content with a bit-part squad role next season and demand a move himself. His future is also dependent on that of the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Conor Gallagher.
Chelsea should keep Ampadu within the squad next season - he is a hugely versatile and flexible player who can plug various holes throughout the course of a packed fixture schedule. Furthermore, he has proven his defensive quality in Serie A whilst putting up impressive passing stats that is likely to be appreciated by Tuchel. That said, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ampadu plying his trade elsewhere next season.
Verdict: KEEP
Topics: Chelsea
Finn Williams