Vasco da Gama has been loaned back to Andrey Santos, according to Chelsea.
Santos, 18, moved to the Blues for £16 million during the January transfer window. After being granted permission to represent his nation at the Under-20 South American Championship, a competition he won and finished as the tournament’s top scorer, the midfielder has yet to make an appearance for Chelsea.
Santos was supposed to be a part of Graham Potter’s starting lineup, but a second work permit application was denied. Now that the adolescent has returned to Vasco to compete in Brazil’s Serie A, the club has verified it.
“Andrey Santos is heading back to Brazil and re-joining his previous club Vasco da Gama on loan,” read a statement on the team website.
“The 18-year-old midfielder, who helped his childhood team gain promotion to the top division the previous season, signed for Chelsea in January. Now that he’s at that level, he can continue to grow. Santos has starred in a success on the global stage since joining Chelsea. He scored against Uruguay in the South American Under-20 Championship championship game for Brazil. Santos, the team’s captain, shared the tournament’s most goals with six.
“We wish Andrey well as he competes in the Serie A of Brazil.”