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Peter Crouch says Chelsea summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ‘can always’ return to Leicester City if his move to Stamford Bridge fails.
Dewsbury-Hall completed a £30m move to Stamford Bridge earlier this month, reuniting with Enzo Maresca who also left Leicester for Chelsea.
The 25-year-old has signed a six-year deal with Chelsea, keeping him in west London until 2030, but ex-England striker Crouch says he ‘can always’ return to the King Power Stadium if he struggles at his new club.
Dewsbury-Hall scored 12 goals and made the same number of assists in 44 league games last campaign, helping Leicester win the Championship and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
At the end of the successful campaign, he was named Leicester’s Player of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season by his team-mates.
Despite Dewsbury-Hall’s impressive form, Crouch expects the former Foxes star to be a ‘squad player’ at Chelsea and play back-up to £100m midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
‘Towards the end of last season, Enzo Fernandez got much better, and I think we’ll see more of Enzo and [Moises] Caicedo next year,’ Crouch told Paddy Power.
‘Now they’ve got a season under their belt, I think they’ll improve. At the moment, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be squad player.
‘But when someone like Chelsea come in for you, you must give it a go. You can always go back to a team [like Leicester] but you’ve got to try your luck at these clubs.
‘I did that when I went to Liverpool, and it was the best thing I ever did.’
What did Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall say about the move?
Dewsbury-Hall spent almost two decades at Leicester, first in the club’s academy and then as a first-team player for seven seasons.
‘It is amazing to be sitting here as a Chelsea player,’ he said after leaving his boyhood club for the Premier League giants.
‘This is a club people grow up watching and hoping to one day play for, so it is a privilege to be here. I’m really excited to get going and can’t wait to show everybody what I can do.’
The highly-rated midfielder also sent an emotional message to Leicester after ending his 18-year association with the club.
‘Well what can I say? What a journey it’s been,’ he said. ‘Seventeen years of my life devoted to this club and it’s been a pleasure.
‘I’ve loved every minute of my time at this football club and created some memories & friendships I’ll never forget.
‘When we were relegated in the 2022/23 season, I felt personally responsible for my part played in that.
‘I made it my goal to ensure we got back to the Premier League within the first season, as I know how devastating a position that can be for a club if it doesn’t happen.
‘I’m very proud of what we achieved together last season – creating memories of a lifetime for us all. But bigger than that, hopefully going some way to righting the wrongs of that relegation season.
‘The overwhelming amount of messages I’ve received in the past few days has honestly touched me and I thank each and every person for taking the time to do so, it means so much to me and my family.
‘I want to thank all of the team-mates I’ve played with, the coaches that I’ve worked with and fans that I’ve grown with.
‘I’m glad I’m leaving the club with them in the Premier League, where they belong, and wish Leicester City all the best in the upcoming season and further on. I’m one of your own, Leicester. But it’s time for me to go now…’
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