Why selling Ethan Ampadu is the latest transfer mistake made by Chelsea

Ethan Ampadu is the latest name on a long list of players departing Chelsea this summer, after signing with Leeds United on a four-year deal.  

   The Wales international has joined the Whites for a reported fee of £7 million plus add-ons, which includes a sell-on clause as well. 

   “I think as a club, the history doesn’t have to be sold. When I spoke with the boss [Daniel Farke], as soon as I got off the phone call, I knew what I wanted, he really impressed me. He told me what he liked about me and where he thinks I can improve as a player. That’s all helped me choose Leeds United,” he told LUTV in his first interview at Elland Road. 

   Ampadu, who created history with Wales, helping them qualify for the 2020 Euros and the recently concluded World Cup, featured for the Blues just 12 times. 

   His reduced appearances for Chelsea since joining in 2017 from Exeter City, largely accompanied by loan spells in Germany and Italy, are a stark contrast to the 44 international caps. It goes to show the competition at Stamford Bridge or, perhaps, an opportunity missed for the Blues.

   Chelsea are no strangers when it comes to selling their own talents – having now lost the likes of Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham, and more recently, Billy Gilmour and Mason Mount. 

   Most of them were touted as the future of the club. But the recent influx of young talent means there will be more departures in the coming windows as the new owners continue to sign teenage sensations from across the continent. 

   Still, Ampadu and Gilmour are two virtuoso midfielders with experience at the highest level as well as international football. Selling the pair for a combined fee of £16m in the space of 10 months is close to criminal, to say the least. 

Versatility

   Versatility is a crucial aspect in the face of a rapidly developing footballing world. Needless to say, the latest Chelsea managers have been massive admirers of this trait, or should we say, prisoners. 

   No team across Europe suffered as many injuries as Chelsea, who were forced to deploy their players in various positions. Not all of which were smooth transitions. Trevoh Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are two names that immediately come to mind, as both were pitted in multiple positions over the course of the season with varying success.

   With Wesley Fofana out for a significant period of time, Ampadu’s qualities in defense could have come in handy for Chelsea. 

   He’s quick off his feet, sharp with closing players down and an able tackler. Center-back is not a far-fetched position to the 22-year-old. At least for the forthcoming season where the Blues wouldn’t often have more than a game per week. It’s not a far-fetched idea, and offers an in-house solution rather than diving into the market for another center-half when there are plenty of other areas that still require attention. 

   Ampadu is the perfect foil for someone like Enzo Fernande, who likes to venture forward with the ball and move 10-20 meters ahead of center to create openings for attackers. 

All-round defensive abilities

   Ampadu’s exploits in Italy underline his balanced profile as a defensive-minded player. He amassed 55 interceptions in the 2021/22 season and completed more passes than prominent names such as Marcelo Brozovic and Destiny Udogie.

   Mauricio Pochettino has already been putting the Chelsea players through their paces, relying on a high-end pressing system as seen in their pre-season matches. 

   Ampadu has been extensively involved in pressing for both club and country, zipping into open spaces and anticipating opposition patterns with aplomb. He would have come in handy in Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1, helping in the defensive phases, while working closely with the creator that’s behind a number 9. 

   As such, Chelsea are seriously short-staffed in midfield after Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante’s departures. With the Moises Caicedo deal swinging like a pendulum and Brighton being shrewd negotiators, Ampadu’s departure now looms large.

Experience

   Ampadu has played in prestigious tournaments for Wales, starting in six games for the national team at the World Cup. He featured in Chelsea’s Europa League winning campaign under Maurizio Sarri, while also garnering considerable Premier League experience while on loan at Sheffield United. 

   Constantly chopping and changing, along with an indifferent spell at RB Leipzig where he only managed three Bundesliga appearances, may have played a role in derailing Ampadu’s journey as a developing star at the club level. He never really got a look-in at Chelsea under Frank Lampard or Thomas Tuchel. 

   Amidst the phase of constant transformation on and off the pitch, Chelsea could have relied upon one of their longest serving players to create the future they so desperately desire. Ampadu, meanwhile, may just have resurrected his career by joining a young, feisty team led by a manager who knows how to achieve promotion.

-Roy Akarshak

Twitter: @RoyAkarshak

Photo: Chelsea Debs. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

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