Chelsea have had a quiet deadline day – but one move has shown up quite how much of a mistake they've made
(Image credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Chelsea have spent around a billion pounds in the last three transfer windows. They can hardly quibble about losing a quid or two, here or there.
But while the Blues have had a quiet Deadline Day in terms of incomings, there have been a few outgoings from Stamford Bridge. Romelu Lukaku has gone to Roma, Mason Burstow to Sunderland and Conor Gallagher has been the subject of interest.
But it's Callum Hudson-Odoi's move that might present the biggest "what if" for Chelsea of recent times.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has left Chelsea (Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Instead, the west Londoners resisted. They rewarded Hudson-Odoi with a bumper new contract, as Gareth Southgate handed him an international debut. He became the second youngest-ever player to start a competitive match for England.
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Chelsea weren't used to handing such big opportunities to young players from their academy. They bucked the trend for a special youngster – and he hasn't quite lived up to the hype, moving to Bayer Leverkusen last season but failing to take the Bundesliga by storm.
Callum Hudson-Odoi didn't live up to the hype at Leverkusen (Image credit: SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images)
It's a big shame for Hudson-Odoi who hasn't had regular game-time to develop – and a shame for Chelsea, who put their faith in a player worth trusting, only for it to not quite work out.
But Chelsea fans can't help but wonder what may have been. They could have sold CHO for £40m: he could have become a starter for Bayern.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
