I presume his thinking was that after only starting 16 times his last season, with 5 and more players vying for his position and City not exactly breaking their necks to keep him; he'd have for more of a chance at Chelsea with only Drogba and Kalu to really battle.
For a 19 year old, playing 26 times was a good time. Then at Chelsea it worked like a treat isn't it, starting 2 league games following season.
So you mean city to pay ridiculous money to keep him or hold the gun at point blank range and make him sign a contract?
I beg to differ he left for a sum of £5 million, an initial payment of £3.5 million and two further payments of £500 thousand and a 15% sell on fee.
He left for free and since he was U24 player, fee was set by tribunal.