Chelsea have officially announced that an agreement has been reached with Spanish side Atletico Madrid for the transfer of star left-back Filipe Luis, with the 28-year-old on the verge of completing a move to Stamford Bridge for a reported £20m fee.
Luis had an outstanding season of last with La Liga winners Ateltico, who also revealed that a deal was now in place for his transfer, and he now looks certain to follow striker Diego Costa to West London this week as Jose Mourinho continues to reshape Chelsea in order to mount a prolonged assault on all fronts next season.
Filipe Luis won more tackles (107) than any other defender in La Liga last season. pic.twitter.com/z1FWZv1iAh
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 16, 2014
The deal is expected to cost Chelsea around £20m, which has been critisised due to the age of the player, but there can be no denying Luis’ abilities, with the 28-year-old certainly one of the strongest defenders in the Spanish League last season.
Signed for a reported £13.5m by Atletico from Deportivo de La Coruña in 2010, Filipe Luis slowly confirmed his status as first choice left-back at the club, and went on to become one of the symbols of Diego Simeone’s new-look side during recent years.
Los Colchoneros made the Champions League final last season (beating Chelsea in the semis along the way), and pipped both Barcelona and Real Madrid to the Spanish title, with Luis part of a formidable back-line that included Diego Godin, Juanfran, and the also Chelsea-bound Thibaut Courtois.
Luis and Courtois will continue to play together at Stamford Bridge next season, while their former teammate Diego Costa will be competing for a place up top. Chelsea are also rumoured to be interested in signing Tiago, who played for the club during Mourinho’s first tenure in charge at the club, which would see them pluck four players from the now ravaged Atletico first team for next season.
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