Lewis Baker signs year-long loan at Vitesse Arnhem

Friday 26 Jun 2015
England Under-20s captain Lewis Baker

Lewis Baker has joined Vitesse Arnhem on a year-long loan deal, his club Chelsea have confirmed.

The England Under-20s captain follows in the footsteps of fellow former youth international Josh McEachran, who spent the 2014-15 season with the Dutch club.

Lewis Baker (C) helped MK Dons win promotion to the Championship

It will be the 20-year-old’s first opportunity to taste first-team football overseas, although he has featured on eight occasions for the Blues’ academy side in the UEFA Youth League.

Baker, who in 2014-15 had loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons, signed a five-year contract with Jose Mourinho’s men in August 2014.

A promising box-to-box midfielder, Baker also won the FA Youth Cup and Under-21 Premier League title at Chelsea.

Lewis Baker wins Chelsea's goal of the season

 

He made his first-team debut in the FA Cup at Derby in 2014 and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year at the end of that season.

He also won Chelsea's fans vote for Goal of the Season for a back-heel against Arsenal in an Under-21 league game.

England Under-20s boss Aidy Boothroyd handed him the captaincy at the start of the 2014-15 season.

The Luton-born midfielder has been a regular in the England development teams and has worn the Three Lions jersey on 28 occasions.

By Jamie Reid Senior Writer