Chelsea have completed the signing of Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic, who returns to Stamford Bridge after three years in Portugal for a reported fee of €25m.
The 26-year-old confirmed yesterday that he was leaving Benfica during a heart-felt interview with Portuguese newspaper ‘A Bola’, and today finalised the deal after completing a medical at Chelsea’s Cobham headquarters.
On signing his five-and-a-half-year contract, the Serbian international said: ‘I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club. I feel very good because of that and just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy.’
We’re delighted to announce the signing of Nemanja Matic from Benfica… http://t.co/xujNAzO3oF #CFC pic.twitter.com/YYQmEYqZeR
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) January 15, 2014
Blues boss Jose Mourinho added: ‘I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea. He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions.’
Having initially been brought to West London in 2009 for £1.5m from Slovakian side MFK Košice, Matic only played three games for the Blues before being shipped out on loan to Vitesse Arnhem in 2010, and then permanently to Benfica as part of the deal that took David Luiz to the Premier League.
Now back in West London, the midfield destroyer will wear the number 21 shirt, and could make his debut this weekend against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
What do you think? Is Matic a good signing? Let me know in the comments below…
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