Chelsea have signed former
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona on a five-year deal.
The
Spaniard, 27, spent three years at Barca and joins the Blues after Arsenal
turned down a first option to buy him.
Cesc Fabregas factfile
- Born Spain, May, 1987
- Joined Arsenal from Barcelona aged 16
- Scored 59 goals in 305 games for the Gunners
- Helped Arsenal win the 2005 FA Cup
- Scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for Barcelona
- Helped Barcelona win La Liga in 2013 and the Copa
del Rey in 2012
- 13 goals in 89 appearances for Spain. Made a
substitute appearance as they beat the Netherlands to win the 2010 World
Cup
Fabregas
joins for an undisclosed fee and said Chelsea matched his football ambitions,
adding he had "unfinished business" in the Premier League.
"I
considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that
Chelsea is the best choice," he said.
While the
fee for the move is unknown, the Spanish club were happy for
Fabregas to leave for a fee in the region of £30m.
His
arrival comes 10 days after England midfielder Frank Lampard announced he would
end his 13-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea
boss Jose Mourinho is also keen to finalise the
transfer of his Spain team-mate Diego Costa from Atletico
Madrid, as he bids to improve on his side's third-place finish in 2013-14, four
points behind champions Manchester City.
"They
have an amazing squad of players and an incredible manager. I am fully
committed to this team and I can't wait to start playing," added Fabregas,
who has 89 caps for Spain.
Fabregas,
who scored 50 times in 305 games for Arsenal during his previous spell in
England, will wear the number-four shirt and join Ramires, Nemanja Matic and
John Obi Mikel as central midfield options for Mourinho.
He scored
35 goals in 129 appearances for Barcelona, but it failed to earn him a regular
midfield role at the Nou Camp, with the trio of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta
and Sergio Busquets viewed as the club's main central combination.
Still
Arsenal's youngest ever player at just 16 years and 177 days, it was expected
they would bid for their former charge - an FA Cup winner with the club in
2005.
But with
Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta and Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain all able to fulfil central roles, Gunners' manager Arsene
Wenger chose to to sign the man he made captain in 2008.
"Yes,
everyone knows that Arsenal had the first option to sign me," added
Fabregas, who said it was "extremely important" the move was
completed before the World Cup finals.
"They
decided not to take this option and therefore it wasn't meant to be. I wish
them well in the future."
Chelsea
look set to lose defender David Luiz to Paris St-Germain after a deal
was agreed for the Brazilian, but goalkeeper Petr Cech welcomed
the signing of Fabregas.
"Obviously
he's a great player, with a lot of experience of playing in England and the
Premier League so it's a great addition to the team," said Cech.
Barcelona
schooled Fabregas in their La Masia academy from the age of 10 and thanked him
for "his professionalism and dedication during his years at the
club".
He could
feature in Spain's World Cup Group B opener against Netherlands on Friday.
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