Possibly the biggest deal of transfer deadline day has been completed, with Chelsea confirming winger Juan Cuadrado has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.
It appeared only a matter of time for the winger to arrive from Fiorentina once Andre Schurrle’s move to Wolfsburg was announced. The finalisation of the move puts to end a will he, won’t he saga that looked like it could go down to the wire of the deadline.
“I am very happy and thankful for this opportunity I’ve been given. This is a great club and honestly it is like a dream to join the Chelsea family and to know that the manager believes in me. I’m happy,” said the 26-year-old, who has been capped 37 times by Colombia, on Chelsea’s website.
Press Association offers more on Cuadrado, with Chelsea describing their latest big-money recruit as “pacy and agile ... with an eye for the spectacular”.
His efforts for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup may have been slightly overshadowed by James Rodriguez, but he was one of his country’s key players in their run to the quarter-finals at Brazil.
Indeed, no player made more assists at last year’s global tournament in Brazil, creating four goals and scoring once.
He had four goals and four assists in 17 Serie A matches for Fiorentina this season.
British media reports put the fee at around EU€35 million (Dh145.9m).
RELATED
– The National’s Transfer Talk page
– Chelsea move Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg to facilitate Cuadrado move
Follow us at our new home on Twitter @NatSportUAE
