22-Year-Old Proven Goalscorer Tells Media He's Moving to Chelsea, Player is Already in England

Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford has confirmed that he is returning to Stamford Bridge following the loan spell at Crystal Palace. The 22-year old announced his decision following the goalless draw between Swansea and Crystal Palace. He mentioned the lack of playing opportunities with the Eagles as his reason for ending the loan.

“That was my last game for Palace,” he said. “If I were being honest, it has been terrible. No one wants to sit on the bench and not play. It was my decision. The gaffer hasn’t actually spoken to me.”

The former U-21 international didn’t start a single game for the Londoners in the Premier League. He made only five substitute appearances for Palace in the league. His only two starts for the club came in the League Cup.

He made a substitute appearance in the goalless draw against Swansea and squandered a glorious opportunity to score, when he shot straight into the hands of Lukasz Fabianski from 12 yards. Following the game, Palace manager Alan Pardew talked about Bamford and his miss: “Strikers will always tell you they need five games,” said Pardew about Bamford.

“Managers ain’t got time for five games. You’ve got to come in and do it. But that chance was normally one he would take. Patrick nine times out of 10 would have buried that and we’d have got three points. But I can’t be disappointed. Maybe he just needs that goal to give him that spark that strikers need.”

Bamford was the Championship player of the year last season, as he scored 17 league goals in 38 appearances for Middlesbrough. But his season ended on a sad note as the Boro were defeated in the playoffs.

He joined Chelsea from Nottingham Forrest on a five-year contract for a fee of £1.5 million in 2012.

Featured image via Twitter