Chelsea have completed the signing of Willian for a fee of around £30million.
The Brazil international looked bound for Tottenham Hotspur last week, and he even underwent a medical at the White Hart Lane club. However, Jose Mourinho nipped in to register an interest in the forward, and as the Blues are able to offer him UEFA Champions League football this term, they quickly assumed pole position.
Willian held talks with the Stamford Bridge club and agreed a five-year contract, and now he has been granted a work permit, his move from Anzhi Makhachkala has been confirmed. The 25-year-old, who will wear the number 22 shirt, is not in the squad for the UEFA Super Cup on Friday, and will debut for his new club after the international break.
“I’m very happy to be here,” he told the club’s website. “It’s been a dream of mine to come and play here. Chelsea are one of the best clubs in the world, and now I’m going to play for one of the best managers in the world, so I’m very happy and looking forward to it.”
Willian left his homeland and Corinthians for Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007, and it was here he made his name having helped them to four league titles, three domestic cups and the Uefa Cup during his six years at the club. He moved to Anzhi in January of this year for around £30million, but their owner Suleyman Kerimov lost interest in his project in recent weeks, and has decided to offload a number of his top earners.
Chelsea now have a staggering array of attacking midfield talent in their squad. Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar were all at times exceptional last season, and they have since added Kevin de Bruyne, Marco van Ginkel and Andre Schurrle to their ranks.
