Chelsea: Papy Djilobodji joins Werder Bremen on loan after just one minute of first-team football

Chelsea defender Papy Djilobodji has joined Werder Bremen on loan until the end of the season, the Bundesliga club have confirmed.

Djilobodji, 27, signed for the Premier League on transfer deadline day in September after the club failed in their repeated attempts to lure John Stones away from Everton. Bremen confirmed the arrival via their official website after the player passed a medical on Thursday 21 January.

The former Nantes defender played just one minute of first-team football for the Blues, coming off the bench in added time to replace Radamel Falcao with his side cruising to a 4-1 win over Walsall in the Capital One Cup. He was also omitted from the club's Champions League squad.

Djilobodji had been in talks with La Liga side Espanyol about joining the club on loan along with another Chelsea misfit, Christian Atsu. The defender, however, has settled on a move to Germany.

Bremen are currently sat 16<sup>th in the Bundesliga, third from bottom. The Germans are looking to strengthen their defence over the course of the January window, having seen Assani Lukimya sign for Chinese first-division club Liaoning FC.

Djilobodji's arrival at Stamford Bridge was widely regarded as a panic buy. Chelsea failed with four bids to sign 21-year-old Stones from Everton during the summer transfer window but were turned down on each occasion. Still needing cover at centre half, Chelsea brought Djilobodji to the club, also signing Michael Hector from Reading, allowing the defender to remain at the Royals for the 2015-16 season.