Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined Chelsea’s academy at eight and made his first-team debut in 2014. His progress was slowed by loans and injuries, but at Crystal Palace in 2017/18 he showed his potential as a powerful, ball-carrying midfielder.
Back at Chelsea he won the Europa League in 2019, and he was part of England’s squad at the 2018 World Cup. After a loan at Fulham, he joined AC Milan in 2023.
In Milan he has played in several midfield roles and scored important goals, often arriving late in the box.
Playing style
Loftus-Cheek is a powerful, ball-carrying midfielder. He is strong, hard to knock off the ball and can drive through midfield, beating opponents with his size and close control. At Milan he has played in several midfield roles, including as an attacking midfielder, and often arrives late in the box to score. Injuries have interrupted parts of his career, but when fit he gives his team a unique physical and technical presence in midfield.
International career
Loftus-Cheek made his England debut in 2015 and played at the 2018 World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals.
Career in numbers
Loftus-Cheek’s senior club career, which began in 2014/15, has so far brought 316 appearances and 29 goals for 4 clubs. His most productive season in front of goal was 2023/24, when he scored 10 times in 40 games for AC Milan. So far in 2026/27 he has made 5 appearances for AC Milan. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.