Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has explained pulling out of the move from Everton in August.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said he had suffered a "massive injury", rupturing his hamstring just a couple of weeks after he had undergone surgery on a hernia.

He said: "At the time I couldn't even walk, I was in a brace for six weeks and couldn't put any pressure through my legs so I didn't feel it was right to make a move at the time. I wanted to weigh up all my options and really think about what I am going to do with the next stage of my career."

Barkley said he had gone in for a tackle in training, but slipped and then felt a pop at the top of his hamstring as the tendon was pulled off the bone.

He added: "After a few days I was having surgery in London and my future was all up in the air and I thought it was best to focus on getting fit, which took a while, and then I thought this was the right move for me."

Explaining his decision to leave Everton - the team he supports - he said the lure of playing alongside the likes of Eden Hazard was too much to turn down.

He said: "Everton means the world to me. I am a boyhood fan, I am a local lad and have supported Everton all my life, it was a very hard decision but I felt it was right to make the jump to Chelsea. I am grateful for what the club did for me over the years and it was hard to leave. The fans were great with me."