It wasn’t long ago that Drinkwater was a bonafide Premier League champion. He was one of the players who helped Leicester City overcome the odds of 5000-1 by rewriting one fascinating tale in modern footballing history.
Aside from his side’s glory, he was on an uphill climb of his own, winning individual honors by bagging Leicester City’s Player of the Season and Goal of the Season awards for the 2013-14 season.
His performances contributed a lot towards establishing the first chapter in Leicester’s rise as they secured promotion to the top flight from the SkyBet Championship. Later, playing 35 games in the Premier League during the 2015-16 season, he was instrumental in Claudio Ranieri’s title-winning plans. After becoming Premier League champion with Leicester, Drinkwater craved a change of scenery.
Drinkwater’s career plummeted at Chelsea
In 2017 Drinkwater, earning an England call-up, decided to sign for Premier League champions Chelsea on a five-year contract for a £35 million fee. It went all downhill for the midfielder from here. Having made only 23 top-flight appearances for the Blues, Chelsea sent him on four different loan spells during his four-year stay.
To say he struggled during his first three loan spells would be an understatement. During that period, he did nothing noteworthy to influence the manager at his parent club. He even spurred controversy in off-field situations at Burnley and Aston Villa.
After recently joining Reading with a year left on his contract with Chelsea, he looks impressive for the first time in years. He is motivated to find his footing back with a grueling season in the Championship to earn a potential suitor once his contract expires. He is striving hard to get his unremembered Chelsea career back on track.
The Royals have taken a chance on the Chelsea loanee. The 31-year-old midfielder needs to impress with the minutes he earns. There are still a few years left in him that he can utilize to play for himself and help another side grow with his experience.
There is no denying that the player has made bad choices that have barred him from his true potential thus far. Perhaps the redemption story arc still awaits away from Chelsea for a desperate Danny Drinkwater.
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