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Chelsea resign Matic on five-and-a-half-year deal
Chelsea have resigned Nemanja Matic from Benfica in the most expensive British signing this transfer window. The Blues have splashed €25 million for the powerful defensive midfielder, whom the club hopes will be the their equivalent of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, a surprising valuation for a player who they sold as a £3 million makeweight when they bought David Luiz in 2011.
However, after a tremendous three years of growth the towering six foot four inch midfielder is set to become a solid figure just above Chelsea’s back-line. Matic completed a medical at Cobham on Wednesday before signing the five-and-a-half-year deal that will keep him in London until 2019, which Chelsea announced via a statement on their official website.
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
“Chelsea Football Club have today completed the signing of Nemanja Matic from Benfica,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Matic 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.”
Manager Jose Mourinho, who has always favorited Matic-esque defensive midfielders, also exclaimed his excitement surrounding the move: “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.”
The Serb will not be eligible to feature in Chelsea’s Champions League campaign this season having played in the competition for Benfica, but will be looking to help take the club from third place to their first Premier League title since 2009/10.