Chelsea’s Brazilian forward Kennedy has joined the London club’s Southern rivals Watford on loan until the end of the season, the club has confirmed.
The youngster came through the youth ranks at Fluminense and is viewed as one Brazil’s hottest properties for the future. He was signed by José Mourinho for £6.7 million last August but struggled to nail down a starting place as the Portuguese manager cam under pressure. The Blues got off to their worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1960s, eventually leading to the sacking of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ in December of last year.
Mourinho was replaced by Guus Hiddink on an interim basis and the Dutchman placed a little more faith in the Brazilian. Between the two managers he notched up twenty appearances for Chelsea last term in all competitions, scoring his first goal for the club in a League Cup win over Walsall. He also got his name on the scoresheet against Norwich City in March. His goal against the Canaries came after a mere 39 seconds of play and was the fasted goal scored in the top-flight last season.
The Blues’ new head coach Antonio Conte has deemed the Brazil under-20 international to be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, however, and has sanctioned his loan move to Watford to give him the chance to gain some more experience of life in the Premier League. Kennedy, who can play in the forward line or as a left-back, will be hoping to get his debut for the Hornets when top-flight football resumes on September the tenth. Watford go up against West Ham United, with the Hammers have suffered a stuttering start to the new campaign.
A statement on Watford’s official website said, “Watford FC is delighted to announce the signing of Chelsea’s Kenedy on a season-long loan. A versatile addition to Walter Mazzarri’s Premier League squad, the left-sided operator can play at full-back or in a more advanced midfield role”.