Jude Soonsup-Bell left Chelsea on deadline day for rivals Tottenham because he felt his pathway to first-team football had been blocked, it has been revealed.
The 19-year-old joined Spurs on final day of the January window after rejecting a move to Manchester City and several offers abroad, with the decision to allow the highly-rated forward to leave raising eyebrows.
Sportsmail understands that Soonsup-Bell's Stamford Bridge exit had long been on the cards and was adamant that about departing, given how he saw no route to first-team football.
His departure came in the midst of Todd Boehly's £323million transfer splurge last month, which saw eight new players arrive, further limiting chances for academy graduates.