At Chelsea since 2007, Iké Ugbo is a Stamford Bridge man through and through.
Climbing up the rungs of the Blues’ youth academy, the striker has started the loan journey most youngsters at the London club have to go through before making the first-team.
Starting in 2017, his temporary spells have taken him to Barnsley FC, MK Dons, Scunthorpe United, Roda JC in Holland and finally Cercle Brugge in Belgium.
The 22-year-old is finding himself with his latest club, scoring seven goals in 12 league games so far this season, managed by an Englishman in Paul Clement, who has previously worked with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo when he was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant.
However, when he returns to Chelsea, and he will unless the Belgian side pay €5m, a decision will need to be made relatively quickly, since his contract at Stamford Bridge is up in 2022.
The magazine pressed some more about his future, asking Ugbo if he was hoping to get noticed by AS Monaco, Cercle Brugge’s affiliate, or if he wanted to return to Chelsea to make a name for himself like Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham.
He replied: “Chelsea would be the ultimate dream. As a kid, I admired Didier Drogba and John Terry. I want to play in the Premier League, but I can also get there through a foreign club. I have the advantage that Frank Lampard gives academy players their chance.
“It’s up to me to prove that I’m ready for an eventual return. I’ve got hope. Tore André Flo is among the Chelsea scouts. He follows me and sends me feedback. I get specific comments after each game. I’m very proud to be evaluated by someone like him. It only motivates me more”.
