Former Chelsea winger Willian has opened up about his biggest career regret, admitting he should never have left Stamford Bridge for London rivals Arsenal.
The Contract Dispute That Sparked a Move
In the summer of 2020, after seven successful years with Chelsea, Willian's future was thrown into doubt by a contract disagreement. The Brazilian attacker, then aged 32, wanted a three-year deal to extend his stay. However, Chelsea's hierarchy would only offer a two-year contract. This impasse led to his departure on a free transfer.
"I wanted a three-year contract and Chelsea said no," Willian explained in a past interview with Rio Ferdinand. Feeling he had a strong option elsewhere, he decided to cross the capital and sign for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, persuaded by conversations with the manager and then-technical director Edu Gaspar about their project.
A Costly and Unhappy Spell at the Emirates
Willian's move to Arsenal proved disastrous. Despite arriving on a lucrative salary reported to be £240,000 per week, his form dipped dramatically and his happiness evaporated. He has since revealed that his time in North London was the lowest point of his professional life.
"I wasn’t happy, that’s why I didn’t perform," Willian stated. "After three months, I said to my agent: ‘Please, I want to go’." His dissatisfaction was so profound that he took the extraordinary step of waiving the remainder of his contract in 2021, forgoing an estimated £20.5 million in wages to secure his exit.
Redemption at Fulham and Clear Regret
Following a brief return to his boyhood club Corinthians in Brazil, where he accepted a substantial pay cut, Willian made a surprising return to the Premier League with Fulham. At Craven Cottage, the 37-year-old rediscovered his joy for football and his best form, proving he could still excel in England's top flight.
Reflecting on his career path with Sky Sports, Willian's regret over leaving Chelsea is now crystal clear. "Yeah. I wish I'd never left," he confessed. "Of course it's easy to say now, but when I stop and think about all the situations... I say to myself 'I wish I never left'. It's life. I'm happy now at Fulham, enjoying myself there."
He described his single season at Arsenal as "the most difficult time of my career," emphasising that staying for financial reasons alone would have been "unfair." Willian's story serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a high-profile transfer can unravel, regardless of the initial optimism.
