FACUNDO BUONANOTTE: CHELSEA LOAN ENDS EARLY AS LEEDS FINALLY GET THEIR MAN

Facundo Buonanotte’s short-term Chelsea spell is over — and it’s ended the way most “depth” loans do when the minutes don’t arrive: quietly, quickly, and with the player needing a reset.Chelsea have confirmed the 21-year-old has returned to Brighton following his loan at Stamford Bridge, after arriving on deadline day and debuting in the 2-2 draw away at Brentford. **

And almost immediately, Leeds United announced they’ve completed a loan deal for Buonanotte until the end of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

⦿ Chelsea appearances: 8

⦿ Goal: 1 (Lincoln City, Carabao Cup)

⦿ Assists: 2

WHY IT ENDED AT CHELSEA

This wasn’t a “he’s not good enough” story. It was a “there’s no oxygen in the role you’ve been signed for” story.

Buonanotte was essentially brought in as an attacking depth option — but once the pecking order set, he struggled to find daylight. The Standard report points to the reality of Chelsea’s attacking midfield minutes tightening up, especially with Cole Palmer returning to availability and dominating that zone.

And when Liam Rosenior was asked about it, the explanation was blunt and fair: Buonanotte wants minutes, Chelsea can’t promise them right now, so they’re “looking into the best solution” — with Rosenior also stressing he’s constantly aligned with the sporting directors and ownership on ins and outs.

THE LEEDS CONTEXT: “THE DEAL WAS DONE… UNTIL IT WASN’T”**

Here’s the funny part: Leeds wanted him first.

They’ve now publicly framed it as finally landing a player with proper top-flight reps, calling him a left-footed attacker who can play as a 10, off either wing, drop deeper, and take set-pieces — basically: plug-and-play creativity across the line.

That matters because Buonanotte’s game has always been built around angles.

He’s not a straight-line winger. He’s a glide-into-space player. The type who wants to receive between the lines, open his body, and either slip runners in… or carry it into the half-space until the back line panics.

And Leeds clearly see him as someone who can give them variety without ripping up their system.

A QUICK CAREER SNAPSHOT (BECAUSE PEOPLE FORGET HOW MUCH HE’S ALREADY DONE)*

Leeds’ own announcement reminds you this isn’t some raw academy punt:

– Rosario Central beginnings (32 senior appearances)

– Brighton move shortly after turning 18

– 50 Brighton appearances

– Leicester loan last season: 35 games, 6 goals, 3 assists

– Now over 125 senior appearances already

Brighton also tied him down on a deal running to 2028 — so from their perspective, this is still a value-protection arc: develop the player, keep his stock healthy, and reassess in summer.

**

WHAT IT MEANS FOR CHELSEA

There’s a Champions League admin layer to this too.

Buonanotte was previously registered in Europe as an injury replacement for Dário Essugo earlier in the season.

Now, with Buonanotte gone, UEFA’s current listings for Chelsea have Essugo back included (for example, he appears in the squad list for Chelsea vs Pafos).

So the Buonanotte loan ends where it began at elite clubs: a useful option, a clean decision, and a pathway opened elsewhere.

FINAL WORD**

Chelsea thanked Buonanotte for his efforts and wished him well — and that’s genuinely the right energy here.

He came, he got a taste of it, he scored, he moved on.

Now the real question is simple:

At Leeds, with weekly minutes and a defined role, do we finally get the Buonanotte who looks like a permanent Premier League problem — not a “nice rotation option”?