Every time you watch Ruben Loftus-Cheek showcase his talent with AC Milan, you might wonder why he didn’t get more opportunities at Chelsea. It’s natural to delve into Ruben’s story and understand how his extraordinary talent developed. This biography takes you on an inspiring journey through Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s life. Known affectionately as “Cheeky” for his stylish play and composed presence on the ball, Ruben’s story is one of perseverance and skill. Born to Trevor Loftus and Juliette Cheek, his journey is shaped by the unwavering support of his family, who have been instrumental in his rise in football.
This section of Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s story delves into his early years at Chelsea Football Club during Roman Abramovich’s ownership. We explore the challenges he faced as a young footballer and the defining moments of his journey with his childhood club. The narrative also highlights his close friendships with fellow academy players Dominik Solanke and Tammy Abraham, showcasing the bonds that played a significant role in his development.
Beyond his impressive performances on the field, we’ll explore Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s rumoured relationship with television personality and presenter Ferne McCann, the dramatic incident where a lightning bolt struck an outbuilding at his home, and other lesser-known aspects of his personality.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
For Biography starters, Ruben Ira Loftus-Cheek was born on the 23rd of January, 1996, in Lewisham, London, United Kingdom.
The youngster was born to a British mother, Juliette Cheek, and a Guyanese father, Trevor Loftus (father). Ruben Loftus-Cheek is of Guyanese descent. Ruben Loftus-Cheek was raised alongside his siblings, Leon Cort, Carl Cort, Isaac Loftus-Cheek, and Wayne Cort.
NOTE: Guyana, where Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s Dad comes from, is an English-speaking country on South America’s North Atlantic coast. The country is culturally connected to the Caribbean region.
Loftus-Cheek’s father, Trevor Loftus, left Guyana and migrated to the UK with his three sons before his last son Ruben was born.
Loftus-Cheek was seen as a fast learner during his childhood time. He followed the footsteps of his elder brothers, who played in the Premier League.
Ruben, pictured below with Dominic Solanke, former Blues owner Roman Abramovich, and Tammy Abraham, had a great start at Chelsea Youth Academy.
Prized for his intelligence on the pitch, he grew relatively taller and stronger and could compete with older players for their positions. This led to promotion and success that uplifted him to the position that he is in today.
Love Life:
Although Ruben is single, he was once linked to English model, television personality and presenter Ferne McCann, who once admitted to messaging a mystery footballer on Twitter.
Speaking to The Sun about her love life, the TOWIE star claimed:
“Someone slid into my direct messages on Twitter a few days ago though! I’m not going to say who. He is my mystery footballer.”
While she tried to keep the exchange under wraps, investigative reports revealed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek was the last person Ferne followed on the social media site (at the time).
The speculations were further fueled by the fact that there weren’t many footballers among the over 1000 people she followed.
In the meantime, Ruben is still single despite links with Love Island 2017 winner Amber Davies, who tried to become close with the Football Genius via messages.
She also gushed about Ruben when she was during an interview, and asked about her thoughts on the footballer.
He’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. He’s absolute babe, (sic).
She remarked.
Lightning Story – It Struck twice for him:
A lightning bolt struck an outbuilding at Ruben’s home in June 2016, marking the second time Ruben and his family suffered at the hands of Mother Nature.
11 years ago from that date, Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s home was struck by lightning. They say “lightning never strikes the same place twice,” but this is a myth debunked by storm researchers and weather veterans. In reality, lightning, as it is said, can and does strike the same location more than once. For Ruben, this unusual phenomenon was a reminder that nature often defies expectations.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek Biography – Career in Summary:
He joined the Chelsea FC youth academy at the tender age of 8. He impressed at the beginning of his career before picking up a hip injury, from which he recovered.
Since then, he has kept impressing the club. He made his debut for Chelsea Under 18s when he was just 14.
Loftus-Cheek was part of the Chelsea side that won the UEFA Youth League final in 2015, alongside Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke.
All thanks to his good form in his youth team, Loftus-Cheek was rewarded with a whopping sum of £1.7 million deal a year while he was just 17 years.
This was coupled with a promotion to the Chelsea senior team. Chelsea’s contract offer to Ruben Loftus-Cheek sparked tabloid outrage. Some critics called it ‘a curse on modern football’.
Indeed, £1.7million a year deal surely makes Ruben Loftus-Cheek financially secure for life despite warming the bench and initially never being featured in matches for the Chelsea first-team.
On signing his new deal, Loftus-Cheek said:
“The club has done so much for me since I started here as an under eight and now I want to repay the faith they have shown in me with my performances on the pitch.”
Since then, he has made a name for himself, especially recently with the England National Team.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek Family Life:
Ruben Loftus Cheek comes from a rich family background. His elder brothers, who played professional football, made lots of money during their peak. This was responsible for his family’s wealth.
About Ruben Loftus-Cheek Father:
Trevor Loftus, Ruben’s father, has been outspoken about his son’s career, particularly criticizing Jose Mourinho for allegedly holding Ruben back during his time at Chelsea. Trevor expressed frustration, stating:
“He should have been playing. Many football fans behind the scenes were asking: ‘Why isn’t Ruben playing? … Truth is, if Ruben was playing for Mauricio Pochettino, he’d have 70, 80, 90 first-team appearances by now.'”
Despite his criticism, Trevor later acknowledged the positive impact of Antonio Conte’s decision to loan Ruben to Crystal Palace for a season. This move allowed Ruben to showcase his talent and make a strong comeback.
Interestingly, Trevor’s critique of Mourinho overlooked the fact that it was Mourinho who requested Ruben be awarded a medal after featuring three times in Chelsea’s title-winning 2014-15 season.
About Ruben Loftus-Cheek Mother:
Juliette Cheek is the British mother of Ruben Loftus-Cheek. She is a home keeper who was once praised for saving her home when its roof was struck by lightning.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has three half-brothers. The eldest is Wayne Cort, a retired soccer player whose career wasn’t well known, unlike his siblings.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s family background is quite remarkable. His second-oldest half-brother, Carl Cort, was born on November 1, 1977. Carl, an English-born Guyanese, had a notable football career as a forward, playing for clubs such as Wimbledon, Lincoln City, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, UD Marbella, and Norwich City. He last played for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League.
Ruben’s immediate older half-brother, Leon Cort, is also deeply connected to football. Currently a scout for Bolton Wanderers F.C., Leon is a former Guyanese defender. He began his career with Crystal Palace in 2006, later moving to Stoke City in 2007, and also played for Burnley, Preston North End, and Charlton Athletic. Leon Cort is the younger brother of Carl Cort and a true half-brother of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
His Idol:
While those at Chelsea have been labelling Loftus-Cheek as the club’s new Michael Ballack, in terms of playing style, he’s a lot closer to a bulldozing midfielder like Patrick Vieira.
The FA describes him perfectly:
“Standing at 6ft 4in, Loftus-Cheek is hard to miss. A commanding box-to-box midfielder, he blends physical presence with grace on the ball, capable of both precise passing and strong tackles. He’s a true all-rounder.”
Germany legend Michael Ballack has been a significant inspiration for Loftus-Cheek. Reflecting on this, he shared:
“My youth coaches always told me, ‘Watch the Chelsea and German games, and study Ballack!'”
Barcelona once tried to sign him:
When they were tired of their best young players being poached by European rivals (for example, Cesc Fabregas), Barcelona decided to come to England and get revenge in 2012 with the capture of Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea.
It was his goalscoring performance for his England U19 match against Wales that caught Barca’s eyes. This was why Chelsea held firm and signed Ruben down to a long-term deal.
However, it seems Justice is been gradually served as his recent rating in FIFA 18 is an impressive upgrade that still leaves much to be desired.