Many at Cobham held a lot of belief that Callum Hudson-Odoi held the keys to a strong future as the most promising graduate of the club’s illustrious academy system.
Fast forward to now though, and the 22-year-old is sitting on the bench for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, as Xabi Alonso looks to turn their fortunes around in the Europa League.
Former manager Thomas Tuchel seemed to not trust the youngster as a regular in the attack, and therefore looked for other alternatives in terms of offering him minutes.
A lot of these came in wing-back roles, a position the player himself has admitted since he felt completely alien in.
There were hopes by many, no one more so than Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, that a loan spell away would see him prosper into a player ready to compete for places again at Stamford Bridge.
It is so far unclear what opinion current manager Graham Potter holds, with him not having Hudson-Odoi available for selection yet at the club.
Time to sell Hudson-Odoi
However, maybe it is time for the Blues to call it a day on the hopes that he can star for them for the next decade.
The Blues spent big in January in trying to strengthen their wingers, noticeably signing Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke as young stars.
Despite the big money spent on the signings, the wages were something the club looked to keep down. The Ukrainian currently earns less in his Chelsea contract than Hudson-Odoi.
The England international’s contract currently expires in 2024, and Boehly is against having players in his squad who are prepared to run down their deal.
With his prospects not even currently high at his loan club, it looks as if it’s time for Chelsea fans to move on from the dream.