Danny Drinkwater leaves Chelsea to join Kasimpasa on loan

18 January 2021 15:30

Kasimpasa have confirmed the signing of Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater on loan until the end of the season.

Drinkwater, who hasn't played for Chelsea since the 2018 Community Shield, had spent the last six months as part of the Blues' reserves after failing to seal a move away last summer.

Finding him a new home was high on Chelsea's agenda for the winter window, and Kasimpasa took to their official website to confirm that the 30-year-old had put pen to paper on a six-month loan deal with the Turkish side.

Chelsea are understood to be subsidising a portion of Drinkwater's £100,000-a-week wages, in the hope that he can prove himself and earn a permanent move away from the club at the end of the season.

Recent loan spells with Burnley and Aston Villa, with whom he made a combined six appearances in all competitions during the 2019/20 season, did not go to plan, with Drinkwater battling injuries and off-field issues which limited his minutes.

Drinkwater is looking to get his career back on track | Michael Regan/Getty Images

Kasimpasa, whose squad also includes former Huddersfield man Florent Hadergjonaj and Brentford loanee Julian Jeanvier, find themselves towards the bottom of the league in Turkey, and they have been busy this month to try and bulk up their squad.

Drinkwater is undoubtedly the most high-profile addition, and if he can stay fit, he stands to play a key role in the team's battle for survival.

Upon his return to Chelsea in the summer, questions will have to be asked about Drinkwater's future. He remains under contract until 2022 and clearly has no future at Stamford Bridge, so club officials will already be looking for potential buyers.

His huge wages have made finding a buyer an impossible task in recent years, but if he can prove himself during his time in Turkey, the hope is that Chelsea will recover some of the £35m they spent to sign him in 2017.


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Source: 90min