Chelsea: Todd Boehly gives 31-word message following Mason Mount’s Man United move

Chelsea have issued a farewell statement to Mason Mount after his £60 million move to Manchester United was officially confirmed.

The England international has signed a five-year contract worth £250,000 a week, with an option for a further year.

It ends Mount’s 18-year stay at Chelsea, having progressed through the club’s academy to make 195 appearances for the senior team.

In the statement titled “thank youlists the 24-year-old’s achievements since joining the club as a six-year-old, including their Champions League success in 2021.

Curiously, however, the statement does not mention joining rivals Manchester United, when a 31-word statement was included on behalf of chairman Todd Boehly and co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano.

A 31-word statement was included in Chelsea’s statement on behalf of Todd Boehly, after Mount’s 18-year stay at Chelsea officially came to an end

Mount joined Chelsea as a six-year-old and made 195 appearances for the club, winning the famous Champions League with The Blues during the 2020-2021 season.

The statement read: ‘Mason is a consummate professional and a popular figure at the club.

“We want to thank him for all his efforts on and off the pitch during his time at Chelsea.”

Rather than mention the Red Devils, the club’s statement only states that Mount ended his 18-year association with Chelsea after permanently leaving the club.

It’s not the first player they’ve sold to a rival this summer, with Kai Havertz joining Arsenal for £65m. Unlike Mount, Chelsea did confirm that the German joined the Gunners in their statement announcing his departure.

Mount’s spell at the club turned sour after Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club to Boehly in 2022, with the team struggling under the turmoil and massive changes in players and staff alike.

Their 12th-place finish in the 2022/23 season, coupled with the lure of playing Champions League football with United for more than double his salary, proved strong enough for him to leave the club he supported as a boy.

Personal terms for Mount were said to have been agreed a few weeks ago as United deflected interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.

In a farewell message to Chelsea fans, Mount said: “Hello Chelsea fans, given the speculation over the past six months, this may not come as a surprise to you. But it doesn’t make it any easier to tell you that I’ve made the decision to leave Chelsea.

Mason Mount himself posted a farewell message, although it did not go down well with Chelsea fans

The lure of playing Champions League football with United for more than double his Chelsea salary was enough to convince him to leave his boyhood club and join Old Trafford.

“I think you deserve more than just a written statement, so I just wanted to tell you right away how grateful I have been for all your support over the past 18 years.

“I know some of you won’t be happy with my decision, but it’s what’s right for me at this point in my career.

“I joined Chelsea when I was six years old and we’ve been through a lot together: winning the Youth Cup, my player of the year award, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup and of course that unforgettable night when we won. the Champions League.’

Mount took the opportunity to thank several individuals for their help throughout his journey at Chelsea, including former managers Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter and academy bosses Jim Fraser and Neil Bath.

He added: ‘I want to thank the academy Jim and Neil for being an influence from such a young age. The managers I worked under, Frank, Thomas and Graham.

Mount’s farewell message was not well received by Chelsea fans who felt his video was “scripted” and suggested the video was filmed several weeks ago.

In a separate post following confirmation of his move to Manchester United, Mount said: “It’s never easy to leave the club you grew up in, but Manchester United will be an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career.”

“Because I’ve competed against them I know how strong a side I’m joining and I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win big trophies.

‘Everyone sees that the club has made great strides under Erik ten Hag. After meeting the manager and discussing his plans, I can no longer look forward to the next few seasons and I am ready for the hard work that is expected here.

‘I’m hugely ambitious; I know how great it feels to win big trophies and what it takes. I will do everything I can to experience that again at Manchester United.”