Lucas Piazon, who is the longest-serving player in Chelsea has finally permanently departed the club after ten years, eight loans and three senior first-team appearances.
Chelsea fans could probably be forgiven for barely noticing that their long-term serving footballer finally left the club on Thursday. Lucas Piazon remarkably, served the longest having joined in 2011, and in theory, at least, worked under eight different managers.
Initially, Chelsea signed the Brazilian from Sao Paulo in 2011. However, he was eligible for a work permit to start in January of 2012. At this stage, Piazon had a reputation as an exciting youngster. Additionally, there were signs he could make a significant impact.
Piazon was named the club’s Young Player of the Year. This after he helped win the FA Youth Cup in 2012 May. Moreover, his three senior appearances all came in the 2012/13 season being brought off the bench by Rafael Benitez in the Premier League to play the final 15 minutes of an 8-0 drubbing of Aston Villa where he had a penalty saved. Also, he features in two League Cup.
Seemingly, after that, an endless run of loans began. Piazon played for Malaga in Spain. This is before stints at Vitesse in the Netherlands and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
In 2015, Piazon however returned to England for a loan spell with Reading and Fulham respectively, He had two successive seasons with the latter with his loan renewed after impressing first time around. He also helped them earn promotion to the Premier League in 2017/18 before heading off again on his travels for stints with Italian side Chievo and Portuguese side Rio Ave.
Though, for now, it seems like his wandering is over. He has signed a deal to play with Braga who are fourth in Portugal’s top-flight until 2025.