Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has completed a season-long loan move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
Hudson-Odoi has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge under Thomas Tuchel and was an unused substitute in their last three Premier League games. He has suffered from lengthy injury problems since making his senior Chelsea debut in 2018, most notably an Achilles tendon injury that sidelined him for five months.
He has not featured for Chelsea since an FA Cup win over Luton Town in March.
"The move to Germany is really exciting for me and I can play in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen," Hudson-Odoi, who has played more than 100 times for Chelsea, said.
"That combination is really attractive and I'm keen to get to know the club, the fans and the Bundesliga."
On the club website, Bayer Leverkusen's sporting managing director Simon Rolfes described Hudson-Odoi as a "fast and penetrative winger".
"He has everything to be able to help us immediately," he said. "This will give our attacking game another special component. We're very happy this transfer has gone through."
Chelsea said in a statement that they have the option to recall Hudson-Odoi, who has won three England caps, in the new year.
“Hudson-Odoi will now have the chance to enjoy regular top-flight and European football at Leverkusen, who finished third in the Bundesliga last season and have been drawn in Group B of the Champions League, alongside Atletico Madrid, Bruges and Porto," the statement added.
Hudson-Odoi, who is under contract at Chelsea until 2024, has previously been linked with moves to Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
The London-born player is a product of Chelsea's junior system, having joined the club at the age of seven.
Chelsea v Leicester ratings
-
CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 7. The Senegalese goalkeeper got lucky when the referee ruled in his favour following a clash with Barnes at a corner, at which Barnes had headed home. Later, he denied Castagne in the last kick of the first half. Reuters -
Reece James – 7. The 22-year-old looked to be back to his best as he rattled the woodwork with a powerful effort before setting up Sterling’s second. Getty -
Thiago Silva – 8. Silva looked solid, and provided superb cover in the second half to block Leicester’s route back into the game. Getty -
Trevoh Chalobah – 7. Made his first start of the season with Kalidou Koulibaly suspended. Looked confident throughout, though almost came unstuck when he missed a long ball to Vardy. AP -
Marc Cucurella – 7. Hoping to be Thomas Tuchel’s preferred left wing-back, Cucurella looked lively on the attack, and nearly played Sterling in for a second. Getty -
Conor Gallagher – 3. The 22-year-old made his first home start for the Blues and was perhaps too eager to impress. Having already been booked for a foul on Dewsbury-Hall early on, he was shown a second yellow inside 30 minutes when he fouled Barnes. Getty -
Jorginho – 6. The Italian lost his creative freedom following the sending off of Gallagher, and he was unable to influence play too much thereafter. Getty -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 7. The 26-year-old almost got his first goal of the season when Sterling found him at the backpost, only for Ward to deny him. He also nearly won his side an early penalty when he was brought down in the opening 15 minutes before VAR overturned the decision. Getty -
Mason Mount – 5. It was a quiet performance by Mount, who was sacrificed at half-time in order to restore Azpilicueta to the backline following Gallagher’s red. Getty -
Kai Havertz – 5. A heavy touch let the German down when Kovacic put him through on goal in an effort that would have made it 3. Havertz had earlier been caught offside in the decision to overturn Loftus-Cheek’s penalty. AFP -
Raheem Sterling – 9. Sterling set up Loftus-Cheek’s early chance before his curling effort from the outside of the box took a deflection to loop over Ward. He got a second when he slotted in James’ cross from the back post. Reuters -
SUBS: Cesar Azpilicueta (Mount 45’) – 7. The Spaniard was called upon to stabilise Chelsea’s defence following Gallagher’s red card and provided the necessary experience to help see out the game. Getty -
Mateo Kovacic (Jorginho 75’) – 6. Straight into the action, the Croatian midfield put Havertz through before the striker’s heavy touch saw the ball run away from him. Getty -
Christian Pulisic (Sterling 75’) – N/A. The American was quiet as Leicester went on the front foot. Ben Chilwell (Cucurella 90+2’) – N/A. Getty -
LEICESTER RATINGS: Danny Ward – 6. The Leicester goalkeeper denied Loftus-Cheek at the back post, but there was little to be done about Sterling’s goals. EPA -
Timothy Castagne – 6. The 24-year-old forced Mendy into an excellent save on the stroke of half-time, before heading over from a corner in the second half. Getty -
Jonny Evans – 7. The Foxes captain was able to shake off an early injury concern following a tackle on Havertz to put in a resolute display. Reuters -
Daniel Amartey – 6. The Ghanian was unlucky as the ball deflected Sterling’s looping effort past Ward. Shaky defensively. AP -
James Justin – 7. There will be hope Justin will be able to see out the season with no major injury woes, with the 24-year-old impressing on the wing. Getty -
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6. The lone midfield survivor from the Foxes defeat to Southampton, this was a less impressive display from the former Leicester youth graduate. Getty -
Dennis Praet – 5. First Premier League start following his loan spell at Seria A side Torino, but he was quiet in the centre. Booked for a foul on Sterling. PA -
Boubakary Soumare – 6. A surprise inclusion making his first appearance of the season, Soumare was positive in the Leicester midfield and was unfortunate to see him time cut short in favour of more attacking options. AP -
Youri Tielemans – 7. The Belgium international was given a reprieve in the first half when he collided with Loftus-Cheek in the penalty area before VAR ruled Havertz offside in the build-up. He had a lot of freedom in midfield, and took control of the Leicester midfield. AP -
Harvey Barnes – 7. Leicester’s main attacking threat, he had a goal disallowed before he slotted past Mendy to pull one back for the away side. Getty -
Jamie Vardy – 5. Leicester’s number nine was through on goal in the first half, but could only slot the ball wide of the post. He was later denied an equaliser in the closing minutes. AP -
SUBS: Ayoze Perez (Praet 55’) – 6. He rattled the crossbar, with the ball bouncing back into play before being cleared. Getty -
Kelechi Iheanacho (Soumare 55’) – 6. Wasted no time trying to make something happen, with his closest effort bobbling wide of Mendy’s goal. Wilfred Ndidi (Tielemans 89’) – N/A. AP
