Chelsea Midfielder Oriol Romeu Joins Stuttgart On Season-long Loan Deal

Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu has joined Bundesliga side Stuttgart on loan until the end of the season, the Premier League club have announced.

After signing a new three year contract with the Blues earlier this month, 22-year-old Romeu will play in Germany this season after spending the 2013/14 campaign on loan at Valencia.

A statement released by Chelsea read: "Oriol Romeu has today joined Stuttgart on a season-long loan. The midfielder, 22, who recently signed a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge, heads to the German top flight."

Romeu was brought to west London from Barcelona by Andre Villas-Boas in 2011. In his second season at the club the midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season, but his loan spell at the Mestalla last term encouraged Chelsea to tie him down to a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2017.

The Spaniard's new deal suggests he is likely to have a role to play in the Blues first team squad in the coming years but Jose Mourinho has opted to omit him from his plans this season. Chelsea's first choice options of Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic in central midfield are likely to be supplemented by Ramires, Marco van Ginkel and John Obi Mikel.

Romeu becomes the ninth player to leave Stamford Bridge this summer on a temporary deal. Lucas Piazon has also sealed a switch to the Bundesliga having joined Frankfurt while Tomas Kalas has joined newly-promoted Cologne. Thorgan Hazard will also join the trio in Germany's top flight having joined Borussia Monchengladbach.

Mario Pasalic, who joined the club from Hadjuk Split this summer, has joined La Liga outfit Elche while Gael Kakuta has joined Rayo Vallecano. Ryan Bertrand will remain in the Premier League having joined Southampton on a temporary deal.

Christian Atsu is also expected to leave the club on a loan deal in the coming weeks. Following his move from Porto last summer the 22-year-old impressed in the Eredivisie last term before enjoying a decent World Cup with Ghana. Everton are reportedly interested in the winger.