Batshuayi joins Valencia on season-long loan from Chelsea

The Bats have added a new bat to their ranks.

Chelsea announced Friday they've loaned striker Michy Batshuayi to La Liga club Valencia for the duration of the 2018-19 season. Batshuayi was also loaned out for the second half of last season, spending the latter end of the campaign with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, where he scored nine goals in 14 appearances for the club.

Valencia, colloquially known as Los Murcielagos in Spain, in reference to the bat perched atop their badge, hinted at the Belgian striker's arrival with a clever video alluding to the nickname shared by the player and team.

Batshuayi represented Belgium at the recent World Cup in Russia, serving predominantly as backup to Romelu Lukaku as his country finished third. He made three appearances at the tournament and scored Belgium's final goal in their 5-1 group-stage rout over Tunisia.

Batshuayi first joined Chelsea in 2016 following a reported £33-million move from French side Marseille. He's scored 19 goals across all competitions over the last two seasons with the Blues, though has yet to nail down a consistent starting role.

The move clears up Chelsea's surplus of traditional center-forward options, leaving Alvaro Morata, Olivier Giroud, and academy product Tammy Abraham as the Blues' choices up front.