Chelsea's loan system to be hauled back as FIFA announce new regulations

Starting from July 2022, clubs will be restricted to eight international loan signings, and eight players sent on loan abroad.

World football's governing body intends to drop the number down to seven for the 2023/24 season and then six for the 2024/25 campaign.

The move, which still requires ratification from the FIFA Council, is designed to prevent clubs from hoarding players, something the Blues have been accused of in recent years.

In keeping with their widespread loan policy, Chelsea currently have 21 players out on loan, eight of which are at foreign clubs.

Tiemoue Bakayoko at AC Milan and Michy Batshuayi at Besiktas are two examples of players who remain on the club's books despite not making a competitive appearance for quite some time.

The new rules do not cover domestic loans, although FIFA expects governing bodies to adapt their regulations accordingly within the next three years.

Further changes, as part of wider reform of the transfer system which FIFA investigated in 2017, have also been introduced.

They include the requirement for a written agreement defining the terms of the loan, the introduction of minimum and maximum loan terms, a limit on the number of loans per season between the same clubs and a prohibition on 'sub-loaning' to a third club.

FIFA hopes the process will help improve the development of young players and promote 'competitive balance'.