Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas has signed for their Premier League rivals Chelsea. He will be playing at Stamford Bridge until at least 2019, after he agreed a five-year deal, expected to be worth around close to £200,000 per week.
Fàbregas has been the head of much speculation in the media about his future, after it became clear that he was no longer a major part of the Blaugrana. Links to many of the Premier League's elite came thick and fast, with all of Chelsea, Arsenal, the two Manchester sides, and last season's surprise package Liverpool, all being linked with the 27-year old Spaniard.
"I do feel that I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time to return"
Fàbregas played in a mixed, but highly successful three years for his boyhood club. Signing for a fee of £35m from Arsenal in 2011, he went on to play over 150 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 42 goals and setting up another 48. Ever-present for Barça, he won five trophies in all at the Catalan club, with the one medal missing being the Champions League.
He also enjoyed an incredible eight years at the Gunners, where he made his mark on the Premier League and in Europe. His only trophy with the North London side came in 2005, where Patrick Vieira scored the winning penalty to win the FA Cup. Despite this, he popped up with vital goals at the most important of times. He scored 57 goals in 303 games, also setting up 98 goals.
"Chelsea is the best choice. They match my footballing ambitions with their hunger and desire to win trophies"
In his official statement, he noted that Arsenal had first refusal to buy him, as was known since his departure, but turned it down. In the same statement, he says that he had many offers that the had to consider, and that "Chelsea were the best choice for him."
The move has been greeted with great acceptance from Chelsea fans, having already agreed to sign Kurt Zouma from Saint-Etienne and Diego Costa from Atlético Madrid. Mourinho's ambitions are clear. With the departures of Frank Lampard, David Luiz and Juan Mata over the past six months, he is trying to build a Chelsea team of his own to dominate for years to come.
