Chelsea starlet Ethan Ampadu says he had a 'gut feeling' about signing for the club he supports after looking up to Didier Drogba and John Terry as a boy

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Ethan Ampadu has revealed that he had a 'gut feeling' about moving to Chelsea last summer after attracting interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.

The 17-year-old, who can play in both defence and midfield, is set to make his second start for the Blues against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after leaving Exeter at the end of last season.

Ampadu made his debut for the club as a substitute against Nottingham Forest earlier in the competition, while his first start under Antonio Conte came in the victory over Everton in the previous round at Stamford Bridge.

Ethan Ampadu made his debut for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup against Nottingham Forest

Ampadu applauds Chelsea's travelling fans after coming off the bench against Huddersfield

And he admits that the opportunity to develop at the club he has supported since he was a boy just 'seemed right'.

He told Chelsea's official website: 'When I was speaking to Chelsea, everything seemed good, everything seemed that I would develop as a player which is what I want to do, I want to be a better player so I can play for Chelsea. Speaking with the club, it seemed right, a gut feeling. 

'You dream of making debuts for Wales and for Chelsea and moving to Chelsea in the summer, the team I supported as a kid, they are like dreams come true.

'Having joined Chelsea, I was in the Under 23s and the youth team and I was learning there, and then when I was invited over to train with the first team, that was another amazing experience for me. 

'Being young and training with all the players and the coaching staff and with the manager with what he has done in his coaching career and when he played, it is a really good experience.'

Ampadu played as a striker as a kid and looked up to one legendary Chelsea forward in particular, but he admits he kept his eyes on two of the Blues' best defenders after dropping further down the pitch.

The 17-year-old grew up watching the likes of Didier Drogba and John Terry star for Chelsea 

Ampadu has made his senior debut for Wales after breaking into Chelsea's first team squad

He added: 'When I was younger I was actually more attacking and I played up front, but as I got tall for my age group I played more defensively and I found I feel like a better defender than I am an attacker. So playing centre back and centre mid was better for me when I was growing up.

'I was always a Chelsea fan growing up, it was always a dream of mine to play for Chelsea and so when you get given the opportunity, you want to try to do that. 

'I just liked Chelsea and what there was there, and growing up I liked Didier Drogba. He is not my position but I liked him as a player and when I became a centre back, I used to look at role models like John Terry and Gary Cahill.'