Marc Guehi joined Crystal Palace last summer (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Crystal Palace new boy Marc Guehi insists his desire to play first team football means he’s made the ‘right decision’ to leave Chelsea.

The highly-rated 21-year-old swapped Stamford Bridge for Selhurst Park last summer in a surprising move.

The Eagles paid around £18million for the defender and he’s started in each of the club’s first three Premier League matches this term.

The centre-back has since been named England u21 captain by Lee Carsley and he says the decision has vindicated his move to south-west London.

Guehi had been tipped to break into Chelsea’s first team (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

‘It wasn’t an easy decision for me to leave Chelsea,’ said Guehi.‘I was at the club for so long – since I was seven years old. I am extremely grateful for everyone who has helped me get so far and it’s because of them that I’m here.

‘I felt like it was the right decision for me to move to Palace. I wanted to play regular football at a high level in the Premier League and test myself to see how far I can go. I think I will really improve myself.

‘So looking at it that way, I think it was the right decision. My mentality is to get the most out of myself.’

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Guehi’s move was one of several that helped Chelsea recoup the cash spent on Romelu Lukaku last summer.

The Blues forked out £97m on the Inter Milan striker but they made up that amount by selling Tammy Abraham to Roma for £40m, Kurt Zouma to West Ham for £26m and Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan for £28m.

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