Chelsea confirm departure of 19-year-old on season-long loan for 2023/24 campaign

Omari Hutchinson has completed a move to Championship side Ipswich Town on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old will spend the season at Portman Road after finalising a switch for the 2023/24 campaign.

Hutchinson, who saw a loan move to West Brom fall through during the January transfer window, will continue his development under former Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna, who is now in charge of Ipswich.

Following his temporary Chelsea exit, Hutchinson said: “I’m really excited to join the Club at such an exciting time.

“I have met with the Manager face-to-face and really enjoyed hearing what he had to say, so I’m looking forward to playing in his team.

“I like to attack what’s in front of me and I like to score and create chances for my team-mates, playing nice football and keeping possession.

“I like bringing smiles to people’s faces and hopefully I can do that here. To play in front of 30,000 people will be crazy and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Hutchinson made two senior appearances for Chelsea last season, both coming against Manchester City, and Town boss McKenna was delighted with the summer acquisition.

He said: “We’re delighted to have Omari with us because he is a young player with real potential who has shown a real desire to come here for his first senior loan. So we think he is a good fit for us and we can be a good match for each other. 

“He is a wide player who can give us different options and is direct, can attack and test the opposition in one-v-ones and has good pace. 

“This is his first senior loan so we have to remember he is very young, but he is a player we are excited to have join the group.”