Nottingham Forest defender Jordan Gabriel has explained turning down Chelsea in 2015.

Released from Arsenal, Gabriel found his way at Southend before offers from Forest and Chelsea arrived.

The on-loan Blackpool defender recalled to the Mirror: "Chelsea is a massive club , great for your CV and I could have gone for the money but I thought in the long-term Forest was the better option.

“I look at academy graduates at Forest like Joe Worrall and Ryan Yates and think I can make that step up like them because I'm learning all the time here at Blackpool."

Gabriel believes his path will still take him to the top despite the agony of leaving Arsenal.

He reflected: “I remember sitting in an office with Liam Brady and they couldn't guarantee me becoming a scholar and felt it was best for me to leave.

“Being at Arsenal from the age of eight and supporting them with my whole family who love them, it was heartbreaking.

“I look at the team photos of U9s and U10s at Arsenal and it was an amazing team.

“A lot of people have dropped out which is upsetting because I have seen them grow as a person and a player.

“But I have always wanted to be out there fighting to get the top one way or another.

“I felt going down a few leagues and being a big fish in a small pond would help.

“I have dropped down to then come back up."