Centreback Matt Miazga has joined French club Nantes on a season-long loan from Chelsea, who have included an option for the Ligue 1 outfit to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
Since signing for the Blues in early 2016, the United States international has only made two appearances for the club under then caretaker manager Guus Hiddink. When Antonio Conte arrived in the summer of that year, Miazga had a chance to stake his claim for a spot in the senior squad yet the Italian did not consider the American as part of his plans for the upcoming season.
Having made no impression under Conte, the former New York Red Bulls defender took the well-trodden path of Chelsea youngsters to the Eredivisie, where he spent two seasons with Vitesse Arnhem. Overall, it was a fruitful spell for the young central defender as he established himself as a key member of the club’s backline. In his two-year stint at the Netherlands, he amassed 72 appearances in all competitions for the Vitas, helping them to a first-ever Dutch Cup triumph in his first season while also assisting in the club’s qualification to the Europa league in both seasons.
Miazga has also emerged as a vital player in the international setup with the United States, who have shifted their focus in building a youthful squad for upcoming international tournaments following their failure to qualify for the previously finished World Cup in Russia.
However, despite returning to West London this summer with an improved profile, Miazga failed to appear in any pre-season games for the Blues under new manager Maurizio Sarri. Another loan move loomed for the USMNT defender and Nantes quickly swooped in to take him to the west coast of France for the rest of the season, but interestingly, Miazga signed a new contract with Chelsea, tying him to the club until 2022.
