Speaking about how he pushed for a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, Callum Hudson-Odoi told The Athletic: “My mindset was, ‘I have to get out of there’.
“Not in a rude way, as in I don’t like the club or I don’t want to be at the club, I don’t like the club. Nothing like that. But I needed to play football somewhere new. Start afresh.
“Try the best I can wherever I am. And then go back to Chelsea at the end of the loan.”
He also spoke about why he chose the Bundesliga club, adding: “I looked at the squad and saw how exciting it was. I knew Jeremie (Frimpong) from playing against him in academy football (when he was at Manchester City). He’s much faster and stronger than I thought — very good.
“There were also good people on the board, like (sporting director) Simon (Rolfes) who tried everything to get me over here. That was a major factor.” In addition, he received some useful intel from a friend who knew all about life at Leverkusen.
“I spoke a lot to Kai Havertz and he said it’s a very good club, the people are great, the league is very good.”
Hudson-Odoi has had a difficult start to the season with Leverkusen, making 10 appearances for them and only registering an assist.
