Transfer News

Report: Chelsea striker will leave the club in January, doesn’t think he will play under Graham Potter

Add as preferred source on Google

Jude Soonsup-Bell is reportedly set to part ways with Chelsea this month.

According to The Athletic, the teenager does not see a future at the club he joined over half a decade ago.

Soonsup-Bell’s position at Cobham has been on the ropes, due to a halt in conversations over signing a new contract.

The 18-year-old apparently began to weigh up his options around this time 12-months ago, and remained undecided up until this point.

Chelsea FC v FC Salzburg: Group E - UEFA Youth League
Photo by Clive Howes – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Now, the young forward is seemingly on the verge of waving goodbye to Stamford Bridge, a stadium he rarely, if ever, got to play at.

Jude Soonsup-Bell to bid farewell to Chelsea

He hasn’t yet been picked by Graham Potter, one of the reasons The Athletic provide for Soonsup-Bell wanting to depart Chelsea.

They claim he is ‘considering the pathway into first team and that he will benefit from going elsewhere’.

Elsewhere might involve a move to a Premier League side, with at least five top-flight teams said to be interested in his services.

Chelsea U21 v Leicester City U21- Premier League 2
Photo by Clive Howes – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Manchester City have even reportedly held talks to sign the youthful striker, discussions that might accelerate now he is heading for an exit.

Soonsup-Bell’s likely withdrawal will be the latest in a long line of academy graduates to leave Chelsea.

In the past few seasons, the Blues have allowed Tariq Lamptey, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Billy Gilmour and Tino Livramento to be sold permanently.

They have also loaned out Levi Colwill, Harvey Vale, Ian Maatsen and Callum Hudson-Odoi among others.

This trend needs to stop if Chelsea are to build from the bottom again.