Chelsea have loaned Spanish central midfielder Oriol Romeu to German side Stuttgart for the duration of the 2014-15 season, the Premier League club announced on Monday.

"Oriol Romeu has today (Monday) joined Stuttgart on a season-long loan," read a statement on the Chelsea website.

"The Spaniard moved to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2011 from Barcelona, and has so far made 33 Chelsea appearances. He spent last season on loan at Valencia."

Romeu, 22, has not played for Chelsea since suffering a serious knee injury in December 2012 that kept him out for the rest of the season, but he recently signed a new three-year contract with the club.