Chelsea midfielder apologises as he announces departure

Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater has tendered an apology to fans as he announces his departure from the club in a farewell message posted on Thursday.

The midfielder expressed disappointment over his time at Chelsea as he had not played a competitive match for the Premier League club since the 2018 Community Shield.

Drinkwater, whose contract expired this summer has now described his time at the club as “a business deal gone wrong”.

The midfielder went on to blame injury blows and his bad behaviour for failing to impress at Chelsea and criticised how he’d been treated.

He was loaned out to Burnley, Aston Villa, Reading and Kasimpasa since he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Leicester in a £35 million deal.

In a lengthy post via his Instagram page, Drinkwater wrote, “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 of 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.

“Football is 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.”