The Dutch midfielder’s Blues contract expired this summer and he has agreed a deal with PSV, where he has become a popular figure after winning two Eredivisie titles on loan, in 2016 and 2018, the second of those as club captain.

He had a third loan spell with the Dutch club in 2020/21, when he returned to action in January following more than two years out of action after surgery to resolve a long-standing knee injury. He further endeared himself to the PSV fans when he was handed the captain’s armband again for their last game of the season and scored the goal which secured their second-place finish and Champions League qualification.

Van Ginkel joined Chelsea from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 and made four appearances for the Blues in his first season, all early on before suffering that initial serious injury in a League Cup win at Swindon Town. He returned to be named among the substitutes for both legs of our Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

He then spent time at AC Milan and Stoke City, before his first loan spell with PSV in January 2016, when his eight league goals in 16 games from midfield, including one on his debut, played a big part in the Eindhoven side retaining the Eredivisie title that year.

Injury meant he missed the start of the next season but following his recovery he returned to the Phillips Stadion for another loan, later extended to 18 months, when the transfer window reopened in January 2017.

Again, he scored in the first match of his loan at PSV and proved a regular source of goals. His contribution to the team was acknowledged when he was appointed club captain for the 2017/18 season and he would skipper them to glory, claiming the Eredivisie title with a memorable 3-0 win over fierce rivals Ajax.

It was that summer Van Ginkel underwent major surgery on his knee, but after a long period of recovery the 28-year-old picked up where left off on loan with PSV last season, and will now continue his return as a permanent member of their squad.

Everyone at Chelsea wishes Marco plenty of success in his future career.