OFFICIAL: Chelsea’s first sale of the summer confirmed, question over loan obligation or option | OneFootball

Chelsea still have some important games to play this season, but those upstairs are getting into gear for a busy summer ahead, and that includes sales as well as purchases.

The first outgoing move of the summer has just been announced by the club. They announced on their official website that Dylan Williams has left the club to join Burton Albion on loan.

Derby County talent never quite lives up to hype

The youngster joined us in January 2022, shortly before the Clearklake-Boehly takeover. At the time, Wayne Rooney said Chelsea had “taken advantage” of Derby County and their financial issues to sign Williams.

He played in the Under-18s that year, and progressed to the Under-21s in the years to come. He even featured on the bench in the FA Cup at one point as Thomas Tuchel’s squad was stretched to its limits.

As recently as a year ago, he was training with the first team squad under Mauricio Pochettino.

His loan career never quite took off however, and it wasn’t until this season, when he was already 21, that he made a move, to League One Burton Albion.

He’s been a full time regular for them appearing in 32 games in all competition. The piece on Chelsea’s website says that the Brewers “have opted” to sign him permanently, while reports on his move back in the summer described it as an obligation to buy with certain conditions being met.

Williams heads off to forge senior career

Either way, that’s a moot point now. He heads off on a permanent move to League One, with a long bright career ahead of him. We would be very surprised if he doesn’t make a Championship move at some point soon, and even the Premier League is by no means an impossible dream for him.

Making a permanent switch is a sensible move for him, and we wish him all the best.