Andre Schurrle insists Wolfsburg move 'a step forward' from Chelsea

Wolfsburg forward Andre Schurrle says he decided to leave Chelsea because he stopped enjoying himself at the Premier League leaders.

The German international moved to Wolfsburg for £22m on the final day of the January window, a day which also saw Chelsea sign Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina and send Mohamed Salah on loan in the other direction.

Schurrle made just five Premier League starts this season for Chelsea and, though he admits that Mourinho attempted to convince him to stay, his ambition to move back to his homeland eventually saw the deal completed.

"I have been a Chelsea fan ever since I was a kid and I felt well there right until the last day. But the most important thing for me is playing football and enjoying myself. This was no longer the case," Schurrle told Sport Bild.

"Wolfsburg might be a smaller club when you look at reputations and I thought about it long and hard. I could have stayed at Chelsea. Mourinho told me that I would get my chance.

"You have to make a decision, though, and in the end I only wanted to play football again. Germany coach Joachim Low told me it would be a great move for me and that is why Wolfsburg are a step forward for me.

"Wolfsburg have a great team as well and can play for silverware in the Bundesliga and in Europe."

Schurrle's fellow deadline day departee Salah is set to return to English shores this week when Fiorentina face Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League last 32 first leg at White Hart Lane.

Another player set to return to England is Micah Richards, who is currently on loan from Manchester City and he says the new Egyptian recruit has adapted quickly to life at the Italian club despite making just two appearances since the January move.

"Salah is a very good addition and is a great player," he said. "He played in the Premier League like me, this [experience] will be very helpful."