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I was an hour away from getting on the plane to sign for Chelsea – now I play for their Premier League rivals
The midfielder revealed what happened before he was due to get on the plane
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WEST HAM midfielder Edson Alvarez has revealed that his former club stopped him from joining Chelsea in 2022.
Alvarez, 26, joined the Hammers in a £35million transfer from Ajax last summer and has since established himself as a crucial first team player.
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However, he could have found himself on the other side of London just one year prior.
The midfielder came close to joining Chelsea in the summer of 2022 but Ajax blocked his move at the last minute.
In fact, Alvarez has revealed that he was just an hour away from getting on a plane to London before the Eredivisie giants initiated a dramatic U-turn.
He told Burro Van Rankin’s podcast for Caliente TV: "Actually, in year three [at Ajax], I had to go to Chelsea, the plane was waiting for me at the airport. When Ajax told me you know what: ‘you’re not going’.
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"Whether people believe it or not, it doesn’t make any difference to me, I’m the one who is here and the one who is living it.
"I was an hour away from getting on the plane and going to sign for Chelsea and Ajax told me: ‘you’re not going’.
"So, you’re not leaving, what do you do? There’s no way you’re leaving."
Despite his failed Chelsea transfer, Alvarez remained a crucial part of the Ajax squad during the 2022-23 campaign.
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He made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing three assists.
Since joining West Ham the midfielder has made 25 Premier League appearances.
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Alvarez is currently set to stay at the London Stadium until 2028.
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