Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City tasted same Chelsea transfer pain | OneFootball

Juan Familia-Castillo's 2021/22 campaign in the EFL was unproductive, to say the least

With the amount of highly-rated youngsters that come out of a big academy such as Chelsea's, there are bound to be some that don't hit the heights that many forecast for them.

For Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic, the hype surrounding the arrival of Juan Familia-Castillo was quickly extinguished following his loan moves there during the 2021/22 campaign.

The left-back came through the academy at Dutch giants Ajax before deciding to finish his youth career in England when he was 15, and Manchester United were being touted as the main frontrunners, having held talks with him in the months leading up to his January move.

In the end, though, it would be Chelsea who would secure his signature, just days after his 16th birthday, and he would slot into the dominant Blues under-18 squad, which won five consecutive FA Youth Cups between 2014 and 2018, playing a key part in the latter two victories. In the 2017/18 campaign, he also started the UEFA Youth League final against Barcelona, albeit in a 3-0 loss.

After initial loan spells back in the Netherlands with Jong Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and Ado Den Haag, Chelsea decided that Familia-Castillo would have his first taste of EFL football in the summer of 2021, but in the end, that decision would derail his career somewhat.

Juan Famila-Castillo's unproductive loan spells with Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic

Familia-Castillo wasn't short of Championship options ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, and it would be Birmingham who would secure his loan services for the year.

Lee Bowyer's side hadn't finished in the top half of the second tier for five years, and the young full-back was set to help them push away from the lower bottom half that had become the norm at St Andrew's at the time.

After coming off the bench in the first game of the campaign against Sheffield United, Familia-Castillo would immediately be relegated to being a cup player, featuring in squads but not making it off the bench in the league, while playing 90 minutes in EFL Cup outings against Colchester United and Fulham.

After being knocked out by the Cottagers, though, the then-21-year-old wouldn't be seen in a matchday squad until November, and even then, his gametime would be limited. He came off the bench in a 0-0 draw with Coventry City and actually started the first game of 2022 against QPR, but was subbed off at halftime.

That would be the final time that Blues fans saw Familia-Castillo at their club, as the loan move was terminated in January, and he would head to League One with Charlton later that month.

His time at the Valley, though, was arguably even worse, as he made just two appearances, one of the best in a loss to Wigan Athletic, and one 90-minute showing against MK Dons. Those were the only two squads he made, as well, and he returned to Chelsea having made no real impact on the Addicks squad.

Now, when you mention the Dominican Republic international's name to any fan in St Andrew's or the Valley, they'll likely respond with, "Who?" But those who do remember think back to a wholly disappointing loan spell from someone with clear potential.

Juan Familia-Castillo missed an opportunity to make an impact in the EFL in 2021/22

When questioned as to why Familia-Castillo wasn't getting game time in a Birmingham shirt, Lee Bowyer stated that it was due to him first coming to the club overweight, that he "couldn't run" and would break down in pre-season training because he was "out of shape."

Ultimately, the full-back could never get up to speed to compete in the EFL, which was a big missed opportunity for him, as he arguably still has the quality to be a good attacking full-back at the level.

He's spent the last two seasons back in the Netherlands with RKC Waalwijk, and while his first year ended in relegation out of the Eredivisie, his sophomore campaign saw him score three and assist seven in all competitions, helping his side to a play-off spot, where they eventually fell short.

At 26, there's still time for him to grow and get better in Holland, and whether it's with his current club or elsewhere, there's a likelihood that he'll be back playing top-flight football there sooner rather than later.

But his senior career in England and his chances of making it in the EFL and then in the Premier League afterwards crashed and burned rather spectacularly.