Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen admits he almost signed for Aston Villa - as a striker!

Christensen was playing up front when he was spotted by Aston Villa, the first of four English clubs to take him on trials.

He also visited Arsenal and Liverpool but settled on Chelsea.

"I was a quick striker when Aston Villa first saw me playing in Denmark," said Christensen. "I went there about five times and then I got a phone call from Chelsea.

"I came here and got a bad ankle injury and they offered to help. I had surgery in Denmark and came here and did my treatment.

"I could see what it was like to stay in digs with players I ended up being with: Jesse Starkey, Kevin Wright, Jacob Maddox and Miro Muheim. All boys in one house, it was a lot of fun."

At 16, having decided to leave Brondby's youth system and pursue his career aboard.

"It is a big decision," said Christensen to the Daily Mail. "You never know what's right and wrong but today it looks like the right decision.

"Brondby have a lot to do with it but feel like I'm a product of Chelsea and I feel like I owe this club a lot."