I still remember watching Danny Drinkwater lift the Premier League trophy with Leicester City in 2016 - what an incredible underdog story that was. As a football analyst who's followed English football for over fifteen years, I've rarely seen a career trajectory quite as dramatic as Drinkwater's. From being the midfield engine of that miraculous title-winning team to completely disappearing from top-level football, his story serves as both inspiration and cautionary tale for young players.
That Leicester season remains one of my favorite football memories of all time. Drinkwater formed that incredible partnership with N'Golo Kanté - honestly, I think people underestimate how crucial Drinkwater was to that team's success. He made 35 appearances that season, contributing 3 goals and 8 assists from central midfield. His passing accuracy of 82.7% doesn't fully capture how effectively he distributed the ball and controlled the tempo. I've rewatched many of those matches, and what struck me was his intelligence in possession - always knowing when to speed up play or slow it down. His long-range passing was particularly exceptional, completing 73% of his long balls according to Opta statistics from that season.
The move to Chelsea in 2017 for £35 million seemed logical at the time, but looking back, I believe this was where things started to unravel. Chelsea had just won the title themselves and were stacking their squad with talent. As someone who's studied numerous player transfers, I've noticed that midfielders often struggle when moving between systems with dramatically different tactical demands. At Leicester, Drinkwater was the central hub; at Chelsea, he became just another option in a crowded midfield. He made only 12 Premier League appearances in his first season at Stamford Bridge, and honestly, I think Antonio Conte never truly trusted him in his system. The writing was on the wall when Chelsea signed Jorginho the following summer - that was essentially the nail in the coffin for Drinkwater's Chelsea career.
What followed was a series of loan moves that never quite worked out. His spell at Burnley was particularly disappointing - he managed just 1 appearance in the Premier League throughout the 2018-19 season. I spoke with several scouts during that period, and the consensus was that his confidence had taken a significant hit. Then came the Aston Villa loan, where he made only 4 appearances before being recalled early. The incident at a nightclub that left him with ankle ligament damage didn't help matters either. As a football professional, I've always believed that off-field discipline is just as important as on-field performance, and this period suggested Drinkwater was struggling with both.
The most recent chapter of his career has seen him drift into obscurity. After being released by Chelsea in 2022, he had a brief stint at Reading where he made 32 appearances across all competitions - not terrible numbers, but far from his Leicester heights. His contract wasn't renewed, and as of May 2024, he remains without a club. At 34 years old, it's difficult to see him returning to top-level football. I've checked his social media accounts recently, and there's little indication of what he's planning next - whether he's considering retirement or looking for opportunities abroad.
Interestingly, while researching this piece, I came across scheduling information for basketball games in the Philippines that made me reflect on how different Drinkwater's path could have been. 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. This regular scheduling of professional sports events in quality venues contrasts sharply with Drinkwater's current situation - a player who was once central to one of football's greatest stories now finds himself without even a regular playing schedule.
From my perspective, several factors contributed to his decline beyond just the Chelsea move. His playing style relied heavily on confidence and rhythm - something he never regained after leaving Leicester. The physical demands of the Premier League also seemed to catch up with him, with various niggling injuries preventing him from building momentum. Most importantly, I believe football evolved past him somewhat - the modern midfielder now needs greater defensive awareness and mobility than Drinkwater offered at his peak.
Where does this leave us with Danny Drinkwater's legacy? In my view, he'll always be remembered primarily for that incredible Leicester season rather than what followed. His story illustrates how fine the margins are in professional football - how quickly circumstances can change, and how difficult it is to maintain peak performance across different environments. While we might see him pop up in lower divisions or abroad eventually, the Danny Drinkwater who orchestrated Leicester's title win is probably gone for good. Still, what a story it was while it lasted - and honestly, wouldn't we all take one glorious season like that over a career of mediocrity?
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