Key takeaways
- Willian: Says he should have stayed at Chelsea.
- Arsenal: Told his agent he wanted to leave after three months.
- Contract: A three-year deal and staying in London helped persuade him.
Willian has described leaving Chelsea for Arsenal as a mistake, explaining how quickly his enthusiasm for the move turned into regret.
Speaking to former team-mate John Obi Mikel on The Obi One Podcast, the Brazilian revisited the decision that ended his seven-year Stamford Bridge spell in 2020.
Why Willian left Chelsea for Arsenal
Chelsea offered two more years, while Willian wanted three. His contract-length disagreement with Chelsea featured in ReadChelsea’s coverage at the time.
Arsenal offered the longer deal. Willian also valued keeping his family in London and says Mikel Arteta outlined a central role for him.
“To be honest I should have stayed,” he said, in comments reported by the Mirror.
The winger followed the same route as Petr Cech, who explained his own Chelsea-to-Arsenal move through the desire for regular football.
Why Willian wanted to leave Arsenal
Willian says the reality differed from the picture presented during talks. Within three months, he had told his agent he wanted to leave.
He linked that frustration to his performances, explaining that unhappiness prevented him from producing his best football.
His Arsenal spell ultimately lasted one season. He scored once in 37 appearances before leaving for Corinthians in 2021.
