A former Premier League standout has encountered financial setbacks as his restaurant venture faced a substantial loss of £782,000. The 33-year-old, who recently retired from professional football on October 30, was informed of this significant loss by liquidators, as reported by The Sun.
The ex-footballer had initiated a restaurant named FoodWell in Manchester back in 2018. Unfortunately, the establishment accumulated debts amounting to £2 million, ultimately leading to its closure last year.
Despite this setback, Danny Drinkwater decided to venture into the restaurant industry once more, acquiring a 70% stake in the business known as Firefly. Regrettably, recent reports from The Sun indicate that his latest restaurant endeavor is currently burdened with a debt of £1.1 million.
Danny Drinkwater, a former England midfielder, announced his retirement at the age of 33, marking the end of his professional football career. Notably, he was a crucial part of the Leicester City team that achieved a remarkable Premier League title win in the 2015-16 season.
Drinkwater’s football journey began at Manchester United, although he didn’t secure a competitive first-team spot with the club. Instead, he embarked on loan spells at Huddersfield, Cardiff, Watford, and Barnsley. In 2012, he made a pivotal move to Leicester City, where he played a significant role in their Championship promotion and Premier League triumph. During his time with the Foxes, he made 218 appearances.
In 2017, Danny Drinkwater transferred to Chelsea, but his tenure at Stamford Bridge was characterized by limited playing time, with just 23 appearances over five years. He did play a role in Chelsea’s run to the FA Cup final in 2018, although he missed the final match against Manchester United due to injury. Subsequently, he spent a considerable part of his Chelsea career on loan at clubs like Burnley, Aston Villa, Kasimpasa, and Reading.
Following his release from Chelsea in 2022, Drinkwater found himself without a club for over a year, leading to his decision to retire from professional football.