I’m England star who made over 100 appearances for Chelsea – but I wish I’d left when I was 16
HE was supposed to be the next big thing at Chelsea.He made his debut aged just 18 under Jose Mourinho.A former Chelsea star was tipped to be the next club legendCredit: Getty Images – GettyHe was part of the title-winning squad in 2016-17Credit: Getty – ContributorBut in the end, he wishes he left sooner – because staying at Stamford Bridge shunted his progress.Ruben Loftus-Cheek racked up more than 150 appearances for his boyhood club, first joining the academy aged eight.He chipped in with 13 goals and 17 assists – plus got his hands on three trophies, including the Premier League and Europa League.But arguably his loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham provided his best football.READ MORE ON CHELSEALoftus-Cheek, who earned his ten England caps from 2017 to 2018 including four at the World Cup, did leave Chelsea permanently after 19 years in 2023, joining AC Milan in Italy.In his impressive debut season at the San Siro, he racked up ten goals in 40 appearances.And now he looks back wishing he made the call to quit Chelsea sooner for the benefit of his career.Now 28, Loftus-Cheek told The Times: “I think if you’re a youngster, seven or eight years old, and you’ve signed with Chelsea, fantastic.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”Because it’s a great academy and you’ll learn how to play football, you’ll develop your skills there and a great coach is coaching you.”But it gets to a point, maybe at 15, 16, where you’re getting to that stage where it’s youth-team football.Chelsea ratings vs Bournemouth: Sanchez excellent but returning Palmer puts on lifeless display”And you might want to start thinking about going and playing somewhere else. Because it’s very difficult now to just go straight through.”The best way to develop is by playing games and playing men’s football.”And it’s easier to do that somewhere else at a lower club. And I feel like that’s what I missed out on, I think.”Like Loftus-Cheek, homegrown talents Conor Gallagher, Lewis Hall, Mason Mount, Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been sold by Chelsea in recent years.That has helped balance the books for Todd Boehly’s mega spending and create space in the squad for the host of expensive signings.Ruben Loftus-Cheek joined Chelsea aged eight in 2004Credit: GettyThe midfielder is now with AC Milan in ItalyCredit: GettyHe earned ten caps including playing at the 2018 World CupCredit: PA:Press AssociationPlayers signed under Boehly at ChelseaRaheem Sterling – £50mKalidou Koulibaly £33mGabriel Slonina – £8mCarney Chukweumeka – £20mMarc Cucurella – £57.5mCesare Casadei – £13.3mWesley Fofana – £70mPierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £10.3mDenis Zakaria – £2.7m (Loan fee)David Datro Fofana – £10.6mBenoit Badiashile – £33.7mAndrey Santos – £11.1mJoao Felix – £9.7m (Loan fee)Mykhailo Mudryk – £62m Noni Madueke – £30mMalo Gusto – £26.75mEnzo Fernandez – £107.8mChristopher Nkunku – £52mDiego Moreira – FREENicolas Jackson – £31.5mAngelo Gabriel – £13mLesley Ugochukwu – £23.3mAxel Disasi – £38.9mRobert Sanchez – £20mMoises Caicedo – £115mRomeo Lavia – £53.2mDeivid Washington – £13.7mCole Palmer – £40.1mDjordje Petrovic – £13.6mTosin Adarabioyo – FREEMarc Guiu – £5.1mCaleb Wiley – £8.63mRenato Veiga – £12mAarón Anselmino – £14mOmari Kellyman – £19.2mFilip Jorgensen – £21mKiernan Dewsbury-Hall – £30.2mPedro Neto – £51mJoao Felix – £42.6mMike Penders – £17m More