Former Chelsea midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko (29) has described the successive loan spells away from Chelsea as a “negative point” in his career.
Bakayoko, off the back of a highly successful season at AS Monaco, secured a €40m move to Chelsea in the summer of 2017. However, the former France international failed to consolidate a spot in the team under successive managers. Despite being at the club for six years, he only made 43 appearances, scoring three goals and registering three assists.
The French midfielder has spent much of his time since 2017 on loan. In that time, he has had two spells at AC Milan, one in the 2018/19 season, before returning to the San Siro in the summer of 2021 on a two-year loan. The Stade Rennais academy product also spent one year on loan at Napoli, as well as another year at former club Monaco. “When I left Chelsea in 2018, it was because a new manager (Maurizio Sarri) arrived with Jorginho, and he told me that I would be below him in the hierarchy. I thought it was the best decision (to leave),” said Bakayoko in a pre-match press conference, transcribed by L’Équipe.
Bakayoko’s second loan spell at AC Milan was much less successful than his first, and he featured sparingly in the title-winning season in 2021/22. He then featured just three times last season with AC Milan before seeing his Chelsea contract terminated. At that point, he had not featured for the Premier League club for five years.
“In my career, the negative point is having been loaned out for so many seasons. I’m hoping to have a bit more continuity at a club from now on,” said Bakayoko, who made his debut for FC Lorient just before the international break in a 3-3 draw against Olympique Lyonnais.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
