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.
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REVEALED: Tottenham starlet Jude Soonsup-Bell left Chelsea because he felt his route to the first team was BLOCKED... as the highly-rated teen picked rivals Spurs in a bid to rise through the ranks quicker
By
SAM MCEVOY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:49 GMT, 2 February 2023 | UPDATED: 15:56 GMT, 2 February 2023
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.
And while Chelsea believe Soonsup-Bell has great potential, the Blues were unwilling to make a substantial offer to extend his contract beyond the end of the season.
It is understood that there is no fee involved for the move, although a sell-on clause has been attached to the deal.
Soonsup-Bell now links up with his new team-mates and could be in line to play in their next game against Brighton on Saturday, February 11.
Following his deadline day move,
a Spurs statement read: 'The 19-year-old forward has signed from Chelsea and agreed a deal that will run until June 2025.
'Having joined Chelsea’s youth academy at Under 13 level, Jude progressed through the ranks to make his senior debut in a Carabao Cup fixture against Brentford in December, 2021, after signing his first professional contract earlier in the year.
'In November, 2020, he became the first Chelsea player in 59 years to score four goals in an FA Youth Cup game, helping the Blues overcome Barnsley.
'At international level, Jude has featured for England’s Young Lions across numerous age categories and has appeared for the Under-19s alongside Alfie Devine, Nile John and Dane Scarlett, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth.'
Tottenham's academy side are struggling in Premier League 2 and they currently sit second from bottom.
Soonsup-Bell has featured 14 times for Chelsea's Under 21s side in 2022-23, scoring twice and assisting a further two for the Blues. He has featured 40 times for the U21s, 25 times for the Under 18s and 12 times for the Under 19s.
He made his senior debut for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Brentford in 2021, playing 45 minutes in the 2-0 victory.
He has also been capped for England at four different youth levels, amassing a total of 10 goals from 18 outings at international level.