Young centre-back Xavier Mbuyamba has explained what went wrong during his spell at Chelsea following his transfer to Dutch side FC Volendam.
The 20-year-old joined Chelsea in 2020 on a free transfer from Barcelona as a highly-rated defensive talent who was often described as “the next Virgil van Dijk”.
At the time, his agent explained how the people at Chelsea were convinced that Mbuyamba could break into the first team in a season or two.
It did not happen, obviously, and he has now left the club to join Eredivisie side Volendam on a three-year deal with an option for a further year.
The former Netherlands U-19 player has had his say on his spell in the Chelsea development squad.
“It’s been a pleasure to represent this club, make new friends, experience life in London, and train with some of the best players in the world,” the defender wrote on Twitter.
“Unfortunately it didn’t quite go to plan, following 2 surgeries and more challenges, but I’ve learned a lot to take into the next chapter of my career.
“Thanks to everyone who made me feel at home. The fans, the players, and the staff.
“I wish you all the best this season and beyond!”
As the player himself pointed out, the injuries clearly had a big impact on his development as a player.
He suffered a long-term knee injury when he just arrived at Chelsea a couple of years ago and spent quite some time recovering.
He then suffered another injury setback just a few months after.
Mbuyamba had several opportunities to train with the first team under Thomas Tuchel but, unfortunately, seemed to fail to impress the manager.
Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.