Vitesse chief Spors: We had to fight to take Broja from Chelsea | OneFootball

Vitesse Arnhem chief Johannes Spors admits they pushed hard to take Chelsea attacker Armando Broja on-loan this season.

Despite their close relationship, Spors says Vitesse identified Broja and had to push hard to convince Chelsea to release him on a season-long loan.

Spor's determination has paid off, with Broja proving one of the most successful loanees Vitesse have taken from Chelsea. The London-born and raised attacker has shone this season in the Eredivisie - his first full campaign as a first team player. Broja has scored ten goals from 26 appearances for Vitesse, which also include two assists. He has also enjoyed an international breakthrough this season with Albania and now boasts three caps.

Spor is delighted and the Vitesse football chief told Goal via Voetbalzone: "I have a good relationship with technical director Petr Cech, who I've known for a while. We sometimes exchange ideas, talk about football and discuss players from both Vitesse and Chelsea. Communication is always very smooth.

"I really had to fight for the arrival of Armando Broja. It's not that Chelsea immediately said: 'Here you have him!'

"No, I really had to convince him. If he had said 'no' it wouldn't have happened. We had to convince Chelsea that this was the best for him."

Broja, who came through the club's youth system, made his first team debut with Chelsea last season and has a deal to 2022 with the Blues.

- updated March 24