Chelsea academy graduate Callum Hudson-Odoi will spend the 2022/23 season on loan in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.
The conditions of the deal remain undisclosed, but it is believed to be a dry loan, which means the winger will return to his parent club once the 2022/23 season is over.
Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes was full of praise for the Englishman on his unveiling, claiming that the youngster will give them another dimension in attack.
“He has everything to be able to help us immediately. Callum has played over 100 games for Chelsea and proven himself in the Premier League as well as in the Champions League. This will give our attacking game another special component. We’re very happy this transfer has gone through,”
Rolfes said.
Hudson-Odoi, who made his senior debut for Chelsea in 2018 and has played 126 games for the Blues, will wear the number 17 for his season in Germany.
Unlike Hudson-Odoi, Ross Barkley will have to look for a new club after his contract was terminated by Chelsea, with the player’s consent. A statement confirmed the same on Monday night.
“Ross Barkley has left Chelsea by mutual consent and becomes a free agent. The midfielder, who joined from boyhood club Everton in January 2018, made 100 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring 12 goals,”
read the statement.
28-year-old Barkley joined Chelsea from boyhood club Everton in January 2018 for a 15 million pound fee on a five-and-a-half-year contract. He failed to establish himself at the club under a succession of managers and was eventually loaned out to Aston Villa for the 2020/21 season. He made 100 appearances for the Blues, the highest being 48 in the 2018/19 season, and scored 12 goals.