Wigan Athletic have signed the Chelsea midfielder Reggie Walsh on a season-long loan.
Walsh, 17, arrives at the Brick Community Stadium as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Chelsea's academy, having already made four senior appearances for the club. He made his debut at 16 against Djurgarden in the Uefa Conference League, becoming the third-youngest player in Chelsea's history, and later became the club's youngest player to feature in the Champions League when he faced Ajax last season.
The move follows the same path taken by Reece James, who spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Wigan before establishing himself at Stamford Bridge. Walsh told Latics TV: "I can't wait to get started. It's the perfect stepping stone I need in my career. Being 17, I need to play men's football, and I believe this is the perfect environment for me to be in and build my career."
Walsh joins a Wigan side rebuilding under the head coach Gary Caldwell, who returned to the club in February to help keep them in League One. The Latics finished 16th last season and have brought in the midfielder Max Power and the forward Sonny Perkins this summer as they target a push into the top half.