Former Leicester Star Danny Drinkwater Reflects on Regrettable £35m Chelsea Move
One former Leicester City player with over 200 appearances may look back on his departure with regret. The Foxes have seen numerous top talents leave the King Power Stadium over the years, with the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Youri Tielemans, N’Golo Kanté, and Ben Chilwell all moving on to bigger clubs.
Danny Drinkwater, who formed a formidable midfield partnership with Kanté during Leicester’s historic 2015/16 Premier League-winning campaign, was among those who swapped the Midlands for Chelsea. After contributing 10 goal involvements that season and earning an England call-up in 2016, Drinkwater remained at Leicester for another year before seeking a move.
According to a BBC report at the time, the midfielder requested a transfer in 2017, prompting Chelsea to sign him for £35 million. However, his time at Stamford Bridge was far from successful—he made just 23 first-team appearances over five years, a stark contrast to the 218 games he played for Leicester.
During his Chelsea tenure, Drinkwater was loaned out to clubs like Burnley and Aston Villa before being released in July 2022. After more than a year without signing for another team, he officially retired from football in October 2023.
Reflecting on his decision, he told BBC Sport:
“I think I’ve been in limbo for too long. I wanted to play but never got the opportunity at a level where I felt valued. I’ve never been obsessed with football—I just loved it. Dropping down wasn’t the issue; it was not playing to my worth.”
Since retiring, BeIN Sports reports that Drinkwater has transitioned into a new career working in construction.
