Winds of Change: Two out-of-favour starlets leave as Chelsea rebuild gathers steam

Danilo Pantic and Jacob Maddox leave Stamford Bridge

According to the club’s official website, Chelsea players Danilo Pantic and Jacob Maddox have left the club.

Pantic has joined Serbian side FK Cukaricki on a season-long loan whereas Maddox completed a permanent switch to Portuguese club, Vitoria.

It looks to be a summer of change at Chelsea given the club’s willingness to revamp their squad going into next season.

Mario Pantic has left Chelsea on loan yet again ( Image Credits: Getty Images)

The Blues showed their no-nonsense approach by procuring both Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner. With Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, and Jan Oblak all on the club’s radar, Chelsea’s business looks far from done.

Incomings are not the only priority. The likes of Pedro, Willian and Mario Pasalic have all left, with a score of other players also available on sale.

Pantic and Maddox are not first-team players, with neither of them making a single appearance for our senior side. However, given their lack of future at the club, it was imperative that we moved them on.

Jacob Maddox joined Portuguese side Vitoria from Chelsea
Jacob Maddox joined Portuguese side Vitoria from Chelsea (Image Credits: Getty Images)

The former joined Chelsea in 2015. The 23-year-old has largely spent time out on loan. He had spells at Vitesse Arnhem, Excelsior, MOL Fehervar and Partizan Belgrade.

He now once again returns to his homeland with FK Cukaricki, who finished sixth in the Hungarian Super Liga last season. They are currently three games into the new campaign and are unbeaten so far.

Maddox, on the other hand, came up through the academy. The 21-year-old joined Chelsea from Bristol City at the age of 14. He was a part of our FA Youth Cup win in 2015/16.

Frank Lampard is set to have a busy summer at Chelsea
Frank Lampard is set to have a busy summer at Chelsea

He enjoyed a successful youth career that also saw him win the UEFA Youth League, the Under-18 Treble, and the Under-19 European Championship with England in 2017.

Maddox also enjoyed loan spells at Cheltenham Town and to a lesser extent at Tranmere Rovers. He spent the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Southampton.

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Given the influx in quality and the high standards demanded by Frank Lampard, it is evident that not all the players will meet the expectations at Chelsea.

Both Pantic and Maddox’s future exist elsewhere and we wish them well in their future endeavours.