The Chilean left-back, signed from O’Higgins in 2013, becomes the 19th player to make the temporary switch from the Premier League champions so far this summer.
After spending last season on loan at Universidad de Chile, back in his homeland, Cuevas now moves to the Belgian first division, where he will hope to impress in a more challenging league.
The 18-year-old’s move to London was confirmed two years ago after an impressive performance for his country at the U-20 World Cup, appearing in four of Chile’s five matches on their route to the quarter-finals, where they were beaten 4-3 in extra time in an encounter with Ghana.
Signed at 16
Following the success of his international breakthrough, coupled with his impressive rise through the ranks at O’Higgins, Cuevas earned a dream move to Chelsea at the tender age of 16. He was sent out on loan for the 2013/14 season, joining Vitesse Arnhem, as many others in his position have, but due to limited opportunities in the Dutch side’s first team, he was recalled and sent to Eerste Divisie side FC Eindhoven instead, whom he appeared for 13 times.
He went straight into Chile’s U-21 side to play in the 2014 Toulon Tournament, although his country performed disappointingly, finishing bottom of their group, after two draws and two defeats, to France and Portugal, respectively.
Last summer, he was shipped back to his homeland to play for Universidad over the 2014/15 season, but the then-17-year-old only made six appearances for the Chilean outfit.
Loan merry-go-round
His chances of ever breaking through to Chelsea’s first team seem to decreasing in size by every loan season that goes past. The majority of youngsters that join Jose Mourinho’s club inevitably end up on the club’s ruthless loan merry-go-round, with Kurt Zouma the only exception that comes to mind from recent years.