Callum Hudson-Odoi’s Chelsea career appears to be over after the winger agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the remainder of the season.
The 19-year-old had been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge for some time, with the Blues reportedly rejecting a £70million bid from Bayern Munich last summer.
Hudson-Odoi had been a regular in Frank Lampard’s side this season, making 22 appearances in all competitions, but he has now decided to move to the Bundesliga in search of regular first-team football.
The England international had been tipped to become a key player for Chelsea in the future, but his move to Leverkusen suggests that his time at the club is now over.
Hudson-Odoi joined Chelsea’s academy in 2007 and made his first-team debut in 2018. He quickly established himself as a regular in the side, making 33 appearances in all competitions last season.
However, he has struggled to hold down a regular place in the team this season, with the emergence of Christian Pulisic and the signing of Hakim Ziyech limiting his opportunities.
Hudson-Odoi’s move to Leverkusen could be the start of a new chapter in his career, but it could also signal the end of his time at Chelsea.
The Blues have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal, and it is unlikely that Hudson-Odoi will be able to force his way back into the team when he returns from his loan spell.
It is a sad end to what had been a promising career at Chelsea, but it appears that Hudson-Odoi’s time at the club is now over.