Cole Palmer has admitted he left Manchester to join Chelsea in search of more regular first-team football.

Chelsea forked out a hefty £45m to secure the talented 21-year-old's services on transfer deadline day, with Palmer taking the club's summer spending to well over the £400m mark.

Having put pen to paper on a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge, Palmer has now explained his decision to leave Man City, where had been on the books since 2010.

"I'm not saying I shied away from the competition [for places at City] because I've never done that. I'd been there [around the first-team] for a few years and wanted more of an opportunity to play - in my position - and to have more of an impact," he explained.

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"It was a huge decision. When I left the training ground on the Thursday I knew I was going to London the next day. It all just hit me, sat in the car and going to drive out. I was just thinking, 'You've been here 15 years'.

"I don't know any different. I've never been on loan. I've never moved out of Manchester. The only time I've ever been outside of Manchester is on holiday or away games. Going [to Chelsea] does feel weird, but there is no time to waste. I've got to get to it."

Despite only signing on deadline day, the wide forward has already made his Blues debut - in a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest - and will be keen to get his first start at the club when they face off against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on 17 September.

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This article was originally published on 90min as Cole Palmer explains decision to leave Man City for Chelsea.