Drinkwater apologises to Chelsea fans as he leaves club after five nightmare years

Danny Drinkwater has apologised to Chelsea fans for failing to live up to expectations as he departs the club after five nightmare years.

Drinkwater joined the Stamford Bridge team in 2017 from Leicester City, a year after he played a fantastic role in the Foxes' surprise Premier League title success.

The midfielder could not replicate that form with the Blues, however, and was sent out on a series of loans to run down his contract. After spending the 2021-22 season in the Championship with Reading, he has now finally left Chelsea as a free agent.

The three-time England international took to Instagram to express his disappointment over the way his Chelsea career has gone, complaining that injuries and the way he was treated at the club held him back.

"My time at Chelsea has come to an end… actually feels really strange writing this," he wrote.

"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.

View this post on Instagram

"I’m going to look at positives over the past five 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 Chelsea 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."

Drinkwater managed just 23 appearances in all