{"id":787781,"date":"2026-02-25T10:01:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/787781\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T10:01:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:01:13","slug":"chelsea-told-they-sold-amazing-and-brilliant-player-for-just-7m-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/787781\/","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea told they sold ‘amazing’ and ‘brilliant’ player for just \u00a37m | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Chelsea
\n\t\tDid Chelsea make a costly transfer mistake? (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Gary Lineker<\/a> and Micah Richards<\/a> have questioned Chelsea<\/a>\u2019s decision to sell \u2018amazing\u2019 and \u2018brilliant\u2019 Ethan Ampadu following his impressive return to the Premier League<\/a> with Leeds United<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chelsea signed a 17-year-old Ampadu from Exeter City in 2017<\/a> and the Welsh star spent six years at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

But Ampadu spent most of that period on loan, playing for RB Leipzig, Sheffield United<\/a>, Spezia and Venezia while trying and failing to break into the Chelsea first team.<\/p>\n

The then-defender did make 12 appearances for Chelsea but failed to ever establish himself as a key player at Stamford Bridge and was sold to Leeds in 2023 for just \u00a37m<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ampadu reacted superbly to the blow of being discarded by Chelsea, captaining Leeds to the Championship title last season and continuing to impress upon their return to the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Daniel Farke\u2019s side were one of the favourites to be relegated at the start of the season<\/a> but have pulled six points clear of the drop zone with 11 games remaining.<\/p>\n

Ampadu has played in all but three of Leeds\u2019 Premier League games this season and former England stars Lineker and Richards were impressed by his performance in Sunday\u2019s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tYour football fix\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Metro<\/strong>‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n

Sign up here<\/a>, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Birmingham
\n\t\tEthan Ampadu has impressed for Leeds United (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018Ethan Ampadu, oh my word,\u2019 Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast<\/a>. \u2018His\u00a0energy\u2026 his football intelligence, his technique.<\/p>\n

\u2018Do you remember him early doors at Chelsea?\u00a0It was so different at Chelsea because he was a centre-half who was good on the ball, now\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0playing centre-midfield and dictating play.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0been amazing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Lineker added: \u2018Everyone was talking and raving about him\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0they and then he disappeared a little bit in terms of his reputation.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Chelsea
\n\t\tAmpadu spent six years at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018I saw\u00a0one or two people saying they\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0sure about\u00a0him\u00a0but\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been really impressed with him this season.\u2019<\/p>\n

Premier League record goalscorer and England legend Alan Shearer, meanwhile, praised Ampadu for his \u2018brilliant\u2019 performance against Aston Villa.<\/p>\n

On Leeds\u2019 impressive form, Richards added: \u2018They\u2019re\u00a0creating chances, they defend well,\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0entertaining to watch, Daniel\u00a0Farke\u00a0has done a really\u00a0good job\u00a0there.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ampadu, meanwhile, said last week that it \u2018felt like he could have stayed\u2019 at Chelsea but wanted more game-time for his \u2018development\u2019.<\/p>\n

A number of clubs expressed interest in signing the Wales international but Ampadu is glad he chose Leeds, insisting he now feels \u2018at home\u2019 at Elland Road.<\/p>\n

\u2018I always felt like I could have stayed [at Chelsea] and been a fourth-choice midfielder,\u2019 Ampadu said. \u2018But you never know what could happen with that.<\/p>\n

\u2018For my development, it was better to play. I was never really phased or bothered if it was abroad. It wasn\u2019t just Chelsea pushing, it was an open conversation over what was best.<\/p>\n

\u2018Before I joined, I heard how big Leeds were but I never really understood it. It would be weird for me to say, because of how big Leeds are, because I didn\u2019t really understand it.<\/p>\n

\u2018The project they had, the boss told me where I could improve. It felt right, it felt like it fit after speaking to him. It\u2019s worked our well, Leeds feels like home.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ampadu\u2019s Leeds face title contenders Manchester City this weekend, while his former club Chelsea take on Premier League leaders Arsenal.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
\nFacebook<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Gary Neville feared Ruben Amorim\u2019s \u00a318m signing would flop at Manchester United<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Manchester United and Chelsea learn Felix Nmecha asking price amid transfer interest<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Former Tottenham coach was asked to stay but left \u2018pointless\u2019 situation<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\tComment now<\/p>\n

\t\t\tComments
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tFootball Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/p>\n

Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t