Back in the summer of 2023, Ethan Ampadu had returned to Chelsea after a fourth loan spell away from the club and found Leeds United willing to sign him permanently.
The versatile star had played 12 times at senior level for Chelsea before four season-long loan spells at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Verona, and Spezia. After two Serie A relegations in a row, he returned.
Chelsea and Ampadu had a decision to make. Whether to keep him and integrate him into the first team, organise a fifth loan for a fifth consecutive season, or decide to sell him permanently. They did the latter.
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Ampadu would join Leeds for an initial fee of £7m. Daniel Farke’s first signing at Elland Road, Ampadu has gone on to become a fan favourite in West Yorkshire, a star during promotion, and now in the big time.
Ethan Ampadu explains decision to leave Chelsea for Leeds
Now captain of a Premier League club just two years after leaving Chelsea, Ampadu is worth far more than the bargain fee Leeds paid to sign him. He is the cornerstone of Leeds’ success, playing in midfield.
Indeed, despite his contract expiring in 2027, he is worth far more than the £7m fee Leeds paid to sign him. Speaking on the Leeds podcast, Ampadu discussed going out on loan and his move to Elland Road.
He shared his relationship with Carlo Cudicini, going out on loan on a few occasions and why he decided Leeds would be his new home: “The team would speak to Chelsea first. I was close with Carlo Cudicini.
Ethan Ampadu
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“He was in the loan department at Chelsea, I always felt like I could have stayed and been a fourth-choice midfielder. But you never know what could happen with that. For my development, it was better to play.
“I was never really phased or bothered if it was abroad, the lifestyle, culture. Languages, I wish I did better. I did Covid in Germany. It wasn’t just Chelsea pushing; it was an open conversation over what was best.
“Before I joined, I heard how big Leeds were but I never really understood it. It would be weird for me to say, because of how big Leeds are, because I didn’t really understand it,” Ampadu continued this week.
“The project they had, the boss told me where I could improve. It felt right, it felt like it fit after speaking to him. It might not have worked out three years down the line but I like to think it has. It feels like home.”
Do Chelsea have a buyback clause in Ampadu’s contract?
At the time of selling Ampadu to Leeds, Mauricio Pochettino had deemed him surplus to requirements. Todd Boehly’s initial 12 months saw him spend £600m, and it had led to a bloated squad at Chelsea.
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Selling Ampadu was probably the priority and no reports since have ever suggested that there is a buyback clause in his Leeds contract. Even if there was, the chances are that it has now expired.
However, there is believed to be a sell-on clause that could see Chelsea benefit, as Exeter did when Chelsea originally signed the Wales star. Normally, clauses like that are between 15 and 25%.
Should Leeds decide to sell Ampadu, which would be astounding given the presence he has at Elland Road, then Chelsea would be entitled to a percentage of any profit Leeds make on their skipper.
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