Chelsea's first summer departure appears to be 'confirmed' as the Blues are set to bid farewell to a player that Raheem Sterling admires.

Reports suggest that Chelsea have decided to offload Armando Broja this summer following his disappointing loan stint at Fulham. Sterling had previously labelled Broja as 'the truth' after witnessing him train for the first time, but the forward's lack of form seems to signal an end to his time in west London.

Broja was sent on loan to Fulham in January after struggling to secure a spot in Chelsea's starting XI over Nicolas Jackson. The product of the Blues academy was anticipated to be a regular starter for the Cottagers, who were in search of a consistent goal-scorer.

However, Rodrigo Muniz's impressive run of form, netting nine goals in his last 14 games, couldn't have come at a worse time for Broja, and manager Marco Silva has only managed to give the loanee 60 minutes of Premier League gametime.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano suggests that Chelsea and Broja are set to part ways permanently 'as soon as he returns from Fulham'. Clubs from England and across Europe are believed to be interested in the 22-year-old, reports the Express.

Broja made a name for himself during a season-long loan at Southampton in 2021/22, where he became a regular starter and scored six Premier League goals. His blistering speed and towering 6ft 3in stature make him a formidable opponent for defenders.

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The Slough-born Albania international's confidence seems to have taken a hit, and it appears he might be gearing up for a fresh challenge. When Armando Broja signed a lengthy six-year contract with Chelsea in 2022, the thought of him leaving Stamford Bridge seemed far-fetched.

Despite his recent dip in form in front of goal, there's no shortage of interest in Broja, with clubs like West Ham, Wolves, and even Real Madrid previously keeping tabs on him.

Raheem Sterling, who joined Chelsea in 2022, had high praise for Broja when speaking to Ian Wright on UMM's TikTok channel: "He's the fastest man in the world," said Sterling. "When people see him properly... yeah. I can't lie, I've told my friends that he's the next one. It's him. I'd heard a lot of things about him before but never really watched him - he's the truth. The truth."

Having been with Chelsea for 15 years since joining as a schoolboy, Broja has expressed that playing regularly for the first team is a 'dream come true'.