Former Chelsea wonderkid who retired at 21 before shock U-turn wakes up unemployed after release from League One side
FORMER Chelsea starlet Sam Hutchinson has been released by Reading.
The 34-year-old was included in the Royals’ retained and released list on the club’s official website this morning.
Hutchinson will now be forced to search for a new home after spending two season with Reading.
The defensive midfielder has had a turbulent career that saw him forced to retire in 2010 after severe knee problems troubled the formative years of his life a professional footballer.
Playing as a defender for Chelsea back then, Hutchinson called time on his career at just 21 years old.
But some 18-months later the former England youth prospect returned to football and returned to Stamford Bridge after his treatment had finally allowed him to play pro football again.
He never quite managed to make it for the Blues, playing just six times for the London club, but took his career in a different direction instead.
After loan spells with Nottinham Forest and Vitesse, Hutchinson signed for Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent basis in 2014 where he went on to make over 200 appearances.
Speaking to the Guardian back in 2017, Hutchinson recalled what it was like retire at such a young age and how he later managed to return to form with The Owls.
He said: “It wasn’t a big call at the time [to retire] because I hated it.”
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Sam Hutchinson's career so far
2007 – 2010: Chelsea
2010 – 2012: Retired
2012 – 2014: Chelsea
2012 – 2013: Nottingham Forest (loan)
2013 – 2014: Vitesse (loan)
2014 – 2022: Sheffield Wednesday
2020 – 2021: Pafos FC (loan)
2022 – 2024: Reading
“I just wanted to stop the pain and stop everything. I never wanted to come back.
“I didn’t want to play for Chelsea either because I blamed them for it, even though it wasn’t [their fault], it was just what happened.”
He added: “I just needed to take control and make my own decisions and just be a man about it.
“That’s what I’ve done at Sheffield Wednesday. As soon as I took charge of my own career, that’s when I started being happier and when I started reaping the benefits.”
Hutchinson also spoke about the mental fortitude it took to return to the pitch after a period away and the difficulties of battling through such a serious injury, explaining: “I probably did as much work mentally as I did physically to come back.”
After eight years at Wednesday, Hutchinson joined Reading where he has spent the last two seasons.
He made just 26 appearances across those two campaigns after once again struggling with injury and has now seen his time at the Select Car Leasing Stadium come to an end.
Hutchinson is joined on the Reading released list by Matty Carson, Nesta Guinness-Walker and Clinton Mola.
A club statement following the announcement read: “We would like to place on record our thanks and best wishes to Matty, Nesta, Sam and Clinton who will all depart the club following the expiration of their contracts this summer.”
