Chelsea recall Leo Castledine from Huddersfield Town loan for Middlesbrough transfer

The 12-goal midfielder has enjoyed a superb spell at Accu Stadium but has now been brought back and sold to the Championship promotion contenders

Chelsea have terminated Leo Castledine’s loan with Huddersfield Town and sold the midfielder to Middlesbrough in a permanent move.

The 20 year old arrived at Town in August and has sparkled with 12 goals and two assists¹ in 27 appearances in all competitions, including a run of eight goals and an assist in his past ten outings.

That form captured the attention of Championship clubs, and while Chelsea had informed Town only a ‘significant bid’ for a permanent transfer would see him recalled, Boro have stepped in with an attractive enough bid to get the deal done.

Huddersfield explored the possibility of making Castledine’s move permanent themselves, but he is understood to have preferred a move to a side currently sitting second in the Championship and with a realistic prospect of playing Premier League football next season.

Castledine is the third player to leave Huddersfield in the January transfer window after Owen Goodman’s loan from Crystal Palace was mutually terminated and Ben Wiles was sold to League Two side Milton Keynes Dons.

Goodman was swiftly replaced by Cardiff City goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, who has joined on an 18-month contract, while Town had already moved to bolster their midfield ranks ahead of Wiles’ and Castledine’s departures by bringing in Cameron Humphreys on loan from Ipswich Town.

Town manager Lee Grant said in a club statement: “Leo’s contribution to the team speaks for itself.

“As a club and as a coaching staff we are proud of the progress and development Leo has enjoyed since joining us this summer. He has contributed significantly to the training level every day, but also to the culture we have here with his selflessness and professionalism.

“I’m personally very proud to have continued our record of improving and developing some of the best talent from Premier League teams, which speaks to the hard work of all the staff behind the scenes.

“We were not at all surprised by the level of interest shown in securing Leo’s services permanently, and of course the decisions were inevitably out of our control.

“Having worked in both the summer and winter windows to explore the potential of signing Leo permanently, we fully respect and understand his and Chelsea’s decision for him to test himself in the Championship this season.

“Leo, we wish you good luck and success for this season and beyond!”

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We Are Terriers reaction

So long and thanks for all the goals. There’s no other sentiment you can really express.

Castledine has been a massive player for Town this season, with his goals helping them to enjoy a short run in the League Cup and helping the side to get through a particularly tough time in November and December.

Town would have five points fewer this season had it not been for Castledine’s contributions, and he was unfortunate that it wasn’t more than that having scored in six-pointers against Bolton, Luton, Cardiff and Lincoln.