Callum Hudson-Odoi reveals Todd Boehly message before leaving Chelsea on loan

Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed that new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly told him to 'be the player you want to be' prior to his Bayer Leverkuson loan move.

The 21-year-old has been touted for big things at the Blues for a number of years, but having struggled to get regular first-team minutes in the last few seasons the wide midfielder has now left the club on loan.

Speaking to The Athletic, the England international has given an insight into why he made the move to the Bundesliga, stating: "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."

Hudson-Odoi discussed what was said to him by Boehly when he was leaving Stamford Bridge: "He said, 'Make sure to do your thing over there - be confident, be free, be the player that you want to be'."

The Chelsea loanee also gave an insight into why he moved to Leverkusen in particular, revealing that Kai Havertz's endorsement of the club played a huge factor: "I looked at the squad and saw how exciting it was.

"I knew Jeremie [Frimpong] from playing against him in academy football. He’s much faster and stronger than I thought - very good. There were also good people on the board, like Simon [Rolfes] who tried everything to get me over here. That was a major factor.

"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."