Danny Drinkwater has expressed his "disappointment" after finally leaving Chelsea after five years on the club's books.
The midfielder endured a horror spell at Stamford Bridge, making just 23 appearances amid loan moves to Burnley, Aston Villa Reading and Turkish side Kasimpasa as he sought to get his best form back. Drinkwater cost the Blues £35m back in 2017, shortly after playing a starring role in Leicester City's title triumph.
His move saw him rekindle his partnership with N'Golo Kante. But whilst the Frenchman has gone from strength to strength, Drinkwater's career has notably declined. The player himself claimed "the list of excuses could be endless" but attempted to take the positives from his time at Chelsea.
He penned a message on social media which read: "My time at @chelseafc has come to an end… actually feels really strange writing this. Me, the club and fans are hugely disappointed with the outcome there is no doubt about that.
"Injuries, how I have been treated, mistakes I have made, issues off the pitch, lack of game time… the list of excuses could be endless but I would not and can not change what’s happened. I’m going to look at positives over the past 5 years, I have played with great players, coached by awesome managers, worked with some brilliant staff, met some fantastic people, lived in some beautiful places, travelled the world and won some more silverware.
"Footballs a fantastic sport but this for both parties was a business move gone wrong, it’s as black and white as that. To the @chelseafc fans I apologise for how this has turned out I would of loved for u to see me at my best in that shirt doing what I love. All the best x"
Antonio Conte was the man to sign Drinkwater in what was a summer of recruitment that saw several players struggle to hit the heights. The player himself has faced his problems away from football, he pleaded guilty to drink-driving after crashing his Range Rover into a wall in Mere, Cheshire in April 2019.
Drinkwater previously described his Chelsea career as a "shambles" during an interview with TalkSport. Back at the start of the 2021/22 season he stated: “I’m in the last year of my contract, so there’s more than just football riding on it. I’ve got other things.”
His spell at Reading wasn't enough to persuade Thomas Tuchel or Chelsea to keep him at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have a host of options available to them in that area and Drinkwater has been deemed surplus to requirements, leaving him to find another club at the age of 32.
