Billy Gilmour admits it was a ‘tough decision’ to leave Chelsea but says he could not ignore his desire to play more football after he joined Brighton on a permanent transfer.
Chelsea agreed to sell Gilmour to Premier League rivals Brighton on deadline day, with the deal worth an initial £7.5m.
Gilmour spent last season on loan at relegated Norwich City and has not featured for Chelsea this season.
The 21-year-old was once viewed as one of Chelsea’s most promising players but leaves having only made 21 appearances for the Blues.
Asked whether he felt he needed a fresh start after deciding to leave Stamford Bridge, Gilmour said: ‘Yeah, I think so.
‘Of course it was a tough decision but I wanted to play football, that’s the main aim for me, to come in and enjoy my football and get regular game-time. It was a bit of a no-brainer.’
Chelsea signed Gilmour from Rangers in 2017 and the Scotland international was handed his Blues debut by former manager Frank Lampard.
But Gilmour’s game-time was reduced once Thomas Tuchel took over and the midfielder did not enhance his reputation during last season’s loan spell at Carrow Road.
Asked how his move to Brighton came about, Gilmour added: ‘It took a long time, there was a lot of back and forth between Chelsea and Brighton.
‘It’s been a busy day, a long day, but an enjoyable one and I can’t wait to get started.
‘For me, Brighton play great football with a style I like to play. The manager is highly thought of as well so I was keen to come here.’
Brighton boss Graham Potter, meanwhile, said he ‘cannot wait’ to start working with Gilmour and is ‘really excited’ by his potential.
‘Billy arrives with a fantastic pedigree, having played in the Premier League and Champions League as well as for Scotland at last year’s Euros,’ Potter said.
‘He will complement our existing midfield options. That experience at quite a young age shows the strength of character he has and we’re really excited by his potential.
‘Now it’s about allowing him the time to get used to a new environment and settling in to our club. We can’t wait to work with him.’
Gilmour joins a Brighton side who have enjoyed an impressive start to the new season and sit fourth in the Premier League ahead of this weekend’s clash with newly-promoted Bournemouth.
More to follow…
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