Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte made remarks in Minnesota earlier this month indicating that American defender Matt Miazga would be sent out on loan this season.
“I think in this moment it is good if he plays to improve, to go and get experience to improve,” the Italian said. “You can improve only if you play.
“You play every game or a lot of games during the season. But he is a good guy and I am very happy about him.”
“Miazga is a young player, he has a good technique and I think that he is working very well under the physical aspect, but the tactical aspect he can improve a lot and I think that he is improving with the work.”
It wasn’t until actual deadline day that we found out his destination.
A statement on Chelsea’s website read: “Matt Miazga has signed for Vitesse Arnhem on loan until the end of the season.”
Miazga’s journey to Chelsea is a very unique story. It’s not often you see a player move from America to England. We’ve certainly seen a lot of transAtlantic deals going the other way in recent years. Usually, it’s the typical “MLS is their retirement home” transfer, as big name accomplished players find a new place to ply their trade in America after they’ve hit their late 30s.
One Chelsea icon, Didier Drogba, is a classic example.
However, Matt Miazga is a transfer story at the very opposite end of the spectrum, in a couple different ways. He moved FROM an American club TO an English club in January, and he’s an individual at the START of his career, not the end.
Miazga, a tall, imposing center half, might be the hottest young star in US football. Miazga signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Michigan, for coach Chaka Daley, but when the opportunity to play for Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls arose, he couldn’t turn it down.
The 21-year-old then moved from the New York Red Bulls to west London in a £3.5 million deal this winter. Scouts from Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City had all taken notice of Miazga, who might be on the move yet again.
Even though he will be sent out on loan, he still figures greatly in Stamford Bridge’s long term plans.
Interim Manager Guus Hiddink told the media on the day Matt Miazga was signed.
“We don’t rush him but he will be one of the squad members for the future.”
“He’s a young guy stepping up to the national team and it’s always good to have such players here so you can see what they are capable of in training.
“He’s a young player, a promising player — let’s see if he can get himself to the high demands of this club and the Premier League.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Sound Cloud.