^ ^ ‘It’s true’ – Netherlands star says injury robbed him of Chelsea transfer move

Quilindschy Hartman attracted strong interest from Chelsea and Arsenal last season (Picture: Getty)

Feyenoord and Netherlands defender Quilindschy Hartman says he could have joined Chelsea last summer had an injury not denied him of a dream transfer move to the Premier League.

Hartman, 23, broke into Feyenoord’s first-team in 2022 and played a key role in an eye-catching debut season in senior football to help his boyhood club win their first Eredivisie title in six years.

The left-back picked up where he left off last term, adding another piece of silverware to his collection as Arne Slot’s men lifted the Dutch Cup.

Hartman’s assured performances quickly caught the attention of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Chelsea all credited with an interest in the young full-back.

Chelsea were believed to be in pole position for Hartman but the Dutchman sustained a serious knee injury in March, putting the kibosh on a potential switch to Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The devastating setback ruled Hartman out of the remainder of Feyenoord’s season, as well as the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 campaign last summer.

‘Are you unlucky when you have become champion with Feyenoord, played in the Champions League, the quarterfinals of the Europa League and made it to the Dutch national team?’ Hartman told Voetbal Primeur when reflecting on what could have been.

The full-back has been capped four times by the Netherlands (Picture: Getty)

Hartman won the Eredivisie in his debut season at Feyenoord under Slot (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s true that Chelsea wanted me, but of course that didn’t happen because of my knee.

‘Too bad, emotionally it would have been a club for me, but it’s not like I’m still losing sleep over it.

‘Things go as they go and playing for Feyenoord is never a punishment.’

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Hartman finally returned to first-team action earlier this month, coming on as a late substitute in Feyenoord’s 2-1 defeat away to league leaders Ajax.

Feyenoord are taking a cautious approach with Hartman’s comeback, with the full-back still yet to see out an entire 90 minutes.

During his time in recovery, it appears Hartman made sure to keep a close eye on the Premier League, taking a keen interest in Slot’s impressive start at Anfield.

‘I mainly follow the Premier League now because of Liverpool, because Arne and Sipke [Hulshoff] (Liverpool assistant manager) work there,’ he added.

‘I played under Sipke with the Feyenoord Under-21 side at all kinds of amateur clubs in front of a handful of spectators.

‘I see him now walk to the fourth official in a top match. That makes me laugh.

‘I know what Sipke is like, he treats everyone the same, whether you’re Virgil van Dijk or a youth player at Feyenoord. That’s why I like Sipke so much.’

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