‘Incredible’ 22-year-old sold by Chelsea now says he was told to train with the reserves

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Former Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour has opened up on his Stamford Bridge exit.

Billy Gilmour left Chelsea for Brighton & Hove Albion last year and has told talkSPORT how he was axed from the Blues’ first team before his move to the Amex Stadium.

“When I came back from my loan from Norwich, I came back and had pre-season and I just wasn’t in the plans,” the 22-year-old said.

“I ended up leaving pre-season with the first-team to go with the reserves. So we were in America for pre-season and then me and two other boys got told there’s not going to be really a chance here, we’re not going to have another opportunity, we’re going to send you with the reserves.”

Gilmour has made a solid start to the new season, recently coming in for praise from his manager Roberto De Zerbi, who hailed him for having an “incredible attitude”.

Billy Gilmour could have saved Chelsea millions

Sine the start of the year, Chelsea have lost several midfielders. The likes of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount have all left the club.

At 22 years of age, Gilmour could have easily been the long-term successor to someone like Kovacic or Jorginho.

In the end, the Blues had to go out and spend on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Is the latter, for instance, a significant upgrade on the Scotland international?

Maybe they are not exactly the same profile. Nevertheless, you cannot help but feel that keeping hold of Gilmour could have been really rewarding.

At the end of the day, though, it is clear that Thomas Tuchel did not really fancy him and could not offer regular game time, so the club’s hands were tied in their defence.

From Gilmour’s perspective, perhaps things have worked out for the best. He is getting minutes right now and is working under an excellent coach in De Zerbi, who is taking Brighton places. The former Chelsea man is in a good spot.