Ethan Ampadu has completed a move to Italian club Spezia. The centre-back joins them on loan until the end of the 2022/2023 season.
Ethan Ampadu spent last season at Venezia, who was relegated to Serie B. However, the Welshman impressed enough to get a move back to Serie A but this time with Spezia. The Eagles finished 16th in the division last season.
The Italian club confirmed in a statement on acspezia.com:
"New reinforcement for the Eagles’ defence: Welsh footballer Ethan Ampadu arrives from Chelsea on a temporary basis.Born in 2000, he grew up in the youth sector of Exeter City, after showing off in the first team, in 2017 he arrived at Chelsea, making his debut with the “Blues” in the same season and becoming one of the youngest debutants in the history of the club.After a season at Leipzig, the young man returns to the Premier, this time at Sheffield United, collecting 25 appearances, while last season, with the newly promoted Venezia in Serie A, he was able to show great tactical flexibility, revealing himself among the best of the lagoon formation.From the Under 17 to the Welsh senior national team, with which he has taken the field on 35 occasions and with whom he is ready to face the next World Championships, the defender is ready to make himself available to the Eagles for the 22/23 season.Benvenuto Ethan!"
Welsh Players to Play in Italy:
John Charles played in Italy in the 1950s and 60s. He made 182 appearances for Juventus, scoring 105 goals. He won Serie A three times and the Coppa Italia twice. Charles also played for Roma 12 times and scored five times.
Ian Rush played for Juventus in the 1980s but lasted just one season before returning to Liverpool. He scored 13 goals in 40 games but did not lift a trophy with the Old Lady.
Aaron Ramsey is another Welsh star to play for Juve. However, his time at the club did not go so well as he managed just six goals and six assists in 70 appearances. Ramsey did win Serie A and the Coppa Italia before departing for Nice this summer.
Welcome @ethanamp26 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/CtGjXdNxo1
— Spezia Calcio (@SpeziaCalcio) September 1, 2022
Ampadu Joins a Long List of British Players in the Serie A, Which Is Becoming a Good Place for Them
Chris Smalling, Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and now Ampadu will all be playing in Serie A this season, it will be interesting viewing from a British perspective, especially with the World Cup in a couple of months where England and Wales are in the same group.
Ampadu knows the division having made 29 appearances for Venezia last season where he made three assists. He fought a relegation battle with the club and will be expecting another tough season with Spezia.
He will get regular game time in Italy, which he would not get at Chelsea. The Welshman, who has 35 caps for his county, will need as much playing time as he can muster to make sure he is starting for Rob Page’s side in Qatar in November.
He is only 21 but can already boast playing in England, Germany, and Italy. Ampadu has made a wise decision to spend another season in Serie A where at such a young age he can develop on and off the pitch.