Cesc Fabregas has joined Chelsea where he will be expected to become a cornerstone of Jose Mourinho's reconstructed team next season.
The Spain midfielder, currently with his national side in Brazil, returns to the Premier League after Barcelona accepted an initial € 33.5 million offer from Stamford Bridge with €3.0 million in add-ons based on appearances.
Arsenal declined to exercise an option to buy back the former captain they sold to Barcelona three years ago but are due a sell-on fee which may end up being around €3 million.
Mourinho has moved quickly to fill the impending void left by Frank Lampard’s departure from Chelsea by giving the 27-year-old a five-year deal. Both men trust the transfer can help ensure there is no repeat of last season’s trophy-less campaign in west London.
By the end of his contract Fabregas intends to have completed “unfinished business” in the Premier League and will presumably hope to leave Arsène Wenger believing he made a big mistake in not welcoming him back to the Emirates.
Unfinished business
“I do feel I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time for me to return,” said Fabregas who spent eight years at Arsenal after coming through Barcelona’s youth system.
He hankered for a return to Spain but, despite collecting four winners’ medals in his first season and celebrating the first league title of his career the following year, things did not proceed as planned.
Although he scored 35 goals in 129 appearances, Fabregas struggled to hold down a regular place at a club in which Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were regarded as the preferred central midfield combination. He was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last summer.
Twelve months on, Wenger did not jump to re-engage him.
“Yes, everyone knows that Arsenal had the first option to sign me,” said Fabregas. “They decided not to take this option and therefore it wasn’t meant to be. I wish them well in the future.
“I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice. They match my footballing ambitions with their hunger and desire to win trophies. They have an amazing squad of players and an incredible manager.”
Fabregas is likely to be joined at Chelsea by Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.
Guardian Service
