Midfielder Danny Drinkwater has confirmed his departure from Chelsea and apologized to his supporters for his unsuccessful time at the club.Danny Drinkwater failed to establish himself in the Chelsea first team after signing in 2017 from Leicester City, and last played for the London club in a Community Shield appearance in 2018. The 32-year-old has been loaned out four times, to Burnley and Aston Villa, as well as Kasimpasa in Turkey.
Danny Drinkwater’s loan spell at Championship Reading ended earlier this month. He made 34 appearances in all competitions for the second division club, which narrowly avoided relegation. “My time at Chelsea has come to an end… It feels really weird to write this. Me, the club and the fans are extremely disappointed with the result, there is no doubt about it, assures Danny Drinkwater on Instagram, before issuing many regrets. The injuries, the way I was treated, the mistakes I made, the pitch problems, the lack of playing time…the list of excuses could be endless but I wouldn’t and can’t. not change what happened.”
Arrived in 2017, Danny Drinkwater will have played less at Chelsea in five years (23 games) than at Reading this season during his loan (34 games). The English midfielder still wants to remember the good. “I’m going to look at the positives of the last 5 years, I’ve played with great players, I’ve been coached by brilliant managers, I’ve worked with brilliant staff, I’ve met fantastic people, I’ve lived in beautiful places, traveled the world and won new trophies.”
Drinkwater was charged with drunk driving and banned from driving for 20 months in 2019, while his Burnley debut was delayed after he damaged his ankle ligaments in an altercation outside of ‘a nightclub.
“Football is a fantastic sport, but for both parties it was a commercial move gone wrong, it’s as black and white as that,” added Danny Drinkwater, who won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016. To the Chelsea fans, I apologize for how this turned out. I wish you had seen me at my best in this shirt, doing what I love.”
