The 20-year-old, who has five goals in 18 appearances this season for our development squad side, is joining Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. It is his first loan.

Brown joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2016 and enjoyed a prolific maiden season for the Blues’ Under-18s, notching 10 goals in 20 league appearances, most of which were as a substitute. That form was rewarded with a development squad debut before the end of the campaign.

In the UEFA Youth League in 2017/18, he scored during his first European appearance, a 5-0 victory against Qarabag, before netting in the return in Azerbaijan and at Atletico Madrid in the group stage.

That season he also helped Jody Morris's Under-18s to an unprecedented quadruple with goals in the FA Youth Cup semi-final against Birmingham and the inaugural Under-18 Premier League Cup final against Tottenham.

Last season Brown was topscorer across our Academy sides with 20 goals from 31 appearances. He signed a new contract in October 2018, committing him to Chelsea until the summer of 2021.

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise are based in Brussels and compete in the Belgian second division where they are currently fourth.