What Happened to Drinkwater Footballer and Why His Career Took a Surprising Turn

I remember watching Danny Drinkwater during Leicester City’s fairy-tale Premier League title-winning season back in 2015–16, and honestly, I thought he was destined for a long, successful career at the highest level. Fast forward a few years, and his story has taken such a sharp, unexpected turn that it’s hard not to wonder what exactly went wrong. It’s one of those football tales that makes you reflect on how fragile a professional athlete’s journey can be—how injuries, off-field issues, and sometimes just plain bad timing can derail even the most promising paths. I’ve followed his career closely, partly because I’ve always had a soft spot for midfielders who play with that old-school grit and vision, and Drinkwater, at his peak, was exactly that kind of player. But lately, his name pops up more in transfer gossip columns or news about loan spells than in match reports, and it’s a real shame.

When he moved to Chelsea in 2017 for around £35 million, I, like many, thought it was the next logical step. He had just won the league with Leicester, earned an England call-up, and seemed ready to test himself at a club with Champions League ambitions. But things unraveled pretty quickly. He struggled with injuries almost immediately—a recurring calf problem, if I recall correctly—and then there was the intense competition for places in Chelsea’s midfield. At Leicester, he was the linchpin, the one who dictated the tempo alongside N’Golo Kanté. At Chelsea, he suddenly found himself behind the likes of Kanté (again, but in a different dynamic), Cesc Fàbregas, and later, Jorginho and Mateo Kovačić. It’s tough to break into a squad that stacked, especially when you’re not fully fit. I remember thinking at the time that the move might have come a year too late, or that his style didn’t quite fit the possession-heavy system Chelsea was adopting under Maurizio Sarri.

Off the pitch, things didn’t help either. There was that incident in 2019 when he was involved in a nightclub altercation, and later, he spoke openly about struggling with mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. It’s something I think we, as fans, sometimes overlook—the psychological toll of being sidelined, of dealing with public scrutiny, and of feeling like you’re not living up to expectations. Drinkwater himself admitted in interviews that he felt isolated and found it hard to cope with the pressure. From my perspective, that human element is crucial to understanding why his career took this turn. Talent alone isn’t enough; you need the right environment, support system, and sometimes, a bit of luck.

Now, you might be wondering what all this has to do with recent events, like the Philippine Basketball Association schedule. Well, it’s funny how sports narratives can intersect in unexpected ways. Take, for example, the Blackwater Bossing’s upcoming games in the PBA—on May 21, the defending champions travel to Ynares Center in Antipolo to take on Blackwater and then battles NLEX on the 24th at the Philsports Arena. In a way, it reminds me of how Drinkwater’s career shifted from center stage to something more peripheral. Blackwater, much like Drinkwater in recent years, has had its share of ups and downs, trying to find footing in a competitive landscape. It’s not a perfect analogy, but it highlights how athletes and teams alike can experience surprising turns, whether due to roster changes, coaching decisions, or just the unpredictable nature of sports.

Drinkwater’s loan spells away from Chelsea—to Burnley, Aston Villa, and Turkish club Kasımpaşa—were attempts to revive his career, but none really stuck. At Burnley, he made only a handful of appearances, and I recall reading that he clashed with management over playing time. Then at Villa, it was more of the same—brief flashes of his old self, but nothing consistent. By the time he moved to Reading in the Championship, it felt like a far cry from those glory days at Leicester. I can’t help but feel that if he’d stayed at Leicester a bit longer, or moved to a club with a clearer plan for him, things might have turned out differently. But that’s the thing about hindsight; it’s always 20/20.

What’s particularly striking to me is how his story contrasts with that of his former teammates. Jamie Vardy, for instance, stayed at Leicester and became a club legend, while Kanté went on to win the Champions League with Chelsea. Drinkwater, on the other hand, seems to be in a perpetual state of limbo. As of 2023, he’s without a club, and at 33, it’s uncertain if he’ll ever return to top-flight football. I’ve seen estimates that his market value has dropped by over 90% since his Chelsea transfer, which is a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in professional sports. It’s not just about ability; factors like fit, timing, and mental resilience play huge roles.

In the end, Danny Drinkwater’s career serves as a cautionary tale, but also a human one. It’s easy to write off athletes as mere statistics, but behind every decline is a person navigating challenges that we, as outsiders, might never fully grasp. Whether it’s dealing with injuries, adapting to new teams, or facing personal struggles, his journey underscores the importance of support and adaptability in sports. And as I look at other sports narratives—like Blackwater’s upcoming PBA games, where they’ll face tough opponents in Antipolo and at Philsports Arena—I’m reminded that surprises and turns are part of what makes following sports so compelling. For Drinkwater, I still hold out hope that he finds a way to reignite his passion for the game, even if it’s in a lower league or a coaching role someday. After all, football, like life, is full of unexpected comebacks.