Leganes defender Kenneth Omeruo admits he's happy to have cut ties with Chelsea.
Omeruo was sold by Chelsea this summer to the LaLiga outfit. The Nigeria international defender effectively cutting all ties with the Londoners after seven years on the club's books.
Despite spending so long a Chelsea player, Omeruo never managed a competitive appearance for the club. Instead, he spent time away on-loan with no less than five different teams: ADO Den Haag, Middlesbrough, Kasımpaşa, Alanyaspor and Leganes. After an impressive last season with Leganes, he was sold outright by Chelsea - on Omeruo's request - over the past summer.
Omeruo admits the initial move to Leganes was made with an eye on proving himself worthy of a permanent LaLiga transfer.
"Every year I thought it was the opportunity to play for Chelsea, but in the end it didn't come. So last season I told them: 'Let me go play in LaLiga and see if I have a level'," he told AS.
And after proving himself, Omeruo learned Chelsea, under new manager Frank Lampard, didn't want to keep him. He subsequently agreed a permanent return to Leganes - despite still having a year on his Blues deal.
Omeruo continued: "I had several options, but the coach at the time (Mauricio Pellegrino) gave me a lot of confidence and told me that he wanted me to stay.
"The club made an effort to sign me. I didn't think they could buy me from Chelsea, but they got me."
- updated December 9
