Reigning Belgian Pro League champions RSC Anderlecht have announced the loan signing of Chelsea's German attacking midfielder Marko Marin, in a deal up until the end of the current 2014-15 season. This is their first piece of transfer business so far in the January window, and becomes Marin's third loan move in less than 24 months, after unsuccessful stays at La Liga side Sevilla and most recently, Serie A club Fiorentina.
He was reportedly unable to make the grade in Italy, and his loan spell was cut short in order to sign with Anderlecht, who were keen on signing the Chelsea player.
In part of the deal, there is a clause in place which allows the Belgians to buy him permanently at the end of the season, with the future fee quoted at around £6million pounds.
Anderlecht's general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck had this to say, on the deal: "Anderlecht goes for quality and not quantity. The arrival of Marko Marin is a win-win situation for both parties; here he can play at the highest level and help the purple-and-white achieve our ambitions."
The creative midfielder will be hoping that this move is the right choice for him, as it has been made clear that he is not in Chelsea's immediate plans for the future. It has to be said also, that his potential was pretty much wasted by The Blues following his £7million move from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, back in 2012.
Marin is known for his quick feet, close-control dribbling, acceleration and attacking intelligence; yet he has barely featured for the current Premier League leaders in the three years since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.