Diego Fabbrini departs Blues and returns to Italy

Diego Fabbrini has joined Spezia Calcio on an international loan. The Serie B club will have an option to sign the 26-year-old on a permanent basis for an undisclosed figure after his loan expires on 30 June 2017.

Fabbrini`s second spell at Blues has been a frustrating one for all parties. After a successful loan spell in 2015, former manager Gary Rowett struck a £1.5m deal with Watford to bring him to St. Andrews permanently – which put a premature end to his loan spell at Middlesbrough.

Since joining Blues in January 2016, the Italian has made just 23 appearances and struggled to force his way into the team regularly.

His move to Serie B will offer Fabbrini the opportunity to play football in his home country for the first time since 2013 when he left Udinese for Watford.