Callum Hudson-Odoi has opened up about his time at Chelsea, explaining that the club’s youth system has helped him mature and develop.
The Nottingham Forest winger left his boyhood club in the summer of 2023, ending a spell that began in Chelsea’s youth academy While with the Blues, Hudson-Odoi became a Premier League under-18 champion as well as an FA Youth Cup winner, before being part of a senior side that claimed the Champions League, the Europa League and the FA Cup.
His eventual permanent transfer to forest It saw him score eight goals in 35 appearances last season, while he has scored twice in 12 games so far in 2024/25.
Hudson-Odoi’s days at Cobham, however, remain a happy memory.
“Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and obviously the whole academy, the whole structure and the facilities there are better,” he said. Rising Dancers. “It’s amazing, so every time you go there and everyone sees it, they’re like, ‘Wow, that’s different.’
“You have like, I don’t even know how many fields, 42 fields in the academy and it’s crazy, everybody thinks it’s an amazing facility.
“I think that’s what helps you, you see all the pitches and then you want to be on the pitch playing football. I think that helped me a lot because growing up all through the academy, I’ve been at Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea in everything, I think it makes you understand a lot about Chelsea.”
“I understand the whole culture of the club,” he continued. “How it was, how the managers are, how the people there try and help you and develop you. I think that was important, the people there were very good, the managers there were very good, the staff was very kind to all the players, they wanted the best for everyone.
“And they weren’t doing it for themselves, they’re doing it to develop us and get the best out of us. It matured me a lot, made me understand a lot about the club and London itself.
“It’s hard trying to do that and trying to be the best you can be at all times, but when you have staff members who can help you and push you to the end, it makes things a lot easier.”
Hudson-Odoi is expected to return to action when Nottingham Forest take charge arsenal on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium.
