Chelsea Transfer News: Loaning Out Thibaut Courtois Was Best Move for Blues

With Petr Cech still firmly cemented between the sticks, the only move Chelsea could make was sending Thibaut Courtois back to Atletico Madrid on loan.

The Spanish club confirmed the move on its official website:

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Both clubs have reached an agreement for the transfer of the international goalkeeper for another season. Thibaut has won three titles since arriving in the Ribera del Manzanares and has claimed the Zamora Trophy last season.

Thibaut Courtois will defend the Atletico Madrid goal next season following the agreement reached by our club and Chelsea to play on loan for another year. Thus, the Belgian will be red and white for the third consecutive season.

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The 21-year-old Courtois was an immediate success at Atletico. It took him very little time to settle in and become one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga. You couldn't help but be surprised at how assured he looked at the Calderon despite his youth and inexperience.

Chelsea got a steal if they did in fact pay the reported €9 million fee to Genk. If they wanted, they could sell him for twice that amount already, and he hasn't even touched his prime.

There isn't a more talented young keeper across Europe than Courtois. In a few years, he'll have supplanted the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Manuel Neuer, etc. as the best goalkeeper in the world.

Cech would be one of those players. At the moment, though, the 31-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down. He's still one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. Cech has made some embarrassing flubs, but so has every other player at his position.

In due time, Courtois will be the guy. For the time being, his path to the first team is blocked.

Keeping him at Chelsea would just hurt his development. Courtois needs first-team football every week. He'll get that at Atletico Madrid.

The only point of contention for supporters is likely that the player is moving to Spain for a third straight season. Some might rather have him play for a mid-table Premier League side in order to have Courtois get experience in the Premier League before featuring for Chelsea.

Of the two options, Atletico is the more optimal situation.

The club is back in the Champions League for next season. Playing in that competition will be invaluable for Courtois. Even with the departure of Radamel Falcao, much will be expected of Atletico. The club and its supporters won't be content to simply play and exit the group stage early.

Courtois will be stuck in very high-pressure situations in the best football competition in the world. He wouldn't get that at a club like West Ham or Sunderland.

Some supporters might think he'll have as much trouble adapting to the English league as David de Gea did. The two would not be on equal footing, though. Courtois is a much more developed keeper at this stage in his career than de Gea was when he moved to Manchester United. A lot of the problems de Gea had at Old Trafford were problems he was having at Atletico Madrid. Playing in the Premier League had little to do with them.

The worries about a big transition from La Liga to the Premier League are a bit overstated. Sure Courtois will need a bit of time to adjust to the Premier League. It's not as if he'll be completely hopeless before that point, though.

Avoiding any adjustment is impossible. Courtois will need time getting used to how his Chelsea teammates play and operate on the pitch. Once that's done, he'll be fine.

Going from the Belgian Pro League to La Liga wasn't a huge issue for Courtois. If he can do that, moving to the Premier League should be a piece of cake.