Tag: CHELSEA

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Chelsea announce club-record £97.5m Romelu Lukaku deal

Chelsea have announced that they have completed the signing of Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku.

The 28-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the Blues, who agreed a £97.5m deal with Inter for his transfer last weekend.

Lukaku previously represented the London club between 2011 and 2014 but failed to score in 15 appearances over the course of two seasons before joining Everton on a permanent deal

The Belgium international has since enjoyed successful spells with Manchester United and Inter, and he has now secured a return to Chelsea, who identified him as their leading attacking target after being forced to admit defeat in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland.

“I’m happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club. It’s been a long journey for me: I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I’m coming back with a lot of experience and more mature,” Lukaku told the club’s official website.

“The relationship I have with this club means so much to me, as you know. I have supported Chelsea as a kid and now to be back and try to help them win more titles is an amazing feeling.

“The way the club is going fits my ambitions perfectly at 28 and just coming off winning Serie A. I think this opportunity comes at the right time and hopefully we can have a lot of success together.

“Since I left Chelsea, it’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but these experiences made me strong and the challenge is to try to help the team win some more trophies. I can’t wait to get started and to help the club achieve more success.”

The fee is a club-record deal for Chelsea but just falls short of the British transfer record, which Manchester City broke when they signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m.

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Kepa Arrizabalaga comes off the bench to secure Super Cup for Chelsea

Kepa Arrizabalaga came off the bench to save two penalties and earn Chelsea Super League success in a shoot-out victory over Villarreal.

Thomas Tuchel made the call to replace Edouard Mendy in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw – with Kepa then providing the heroics.

Kai Havertz missed the first spot-kick but after that Chelsea were perfect while both Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol both saw their penalties saved as Chelsea won the shoot-out 6-5

Hakim Ziyech shone from the start and opened the scoring only to injure his shoulder before half-time to give Thomas Tuchel a worry ahead of the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

For their large spells of dominance, Chelsea’s goal lived a charmed life as Villareal twice hit the woodwork before the prolific Gerard Moreno drew them level.

That was the end of the scoring as the tie was settled on penalties with Tuchel’s decision to bring on Kepa moments before the shoot-out proving to be inspired.

He kept the same starting XI which played in their final pre-season game against Tottenham and the Champions League holders started well.

Just over 300 miles away Romelu Lukaku was touching down at Biggin Hill airport to complete his return to the club and it was Timo Werner, playing in the centre-forward role the Belgian is being recruited to fill, whose controlled volley forced a first save out of Sergio Asenjo.

Jorginho scores from the penalty spot

But Chelsea took the lead in the 27th minute as Ziyech capped a dominant start by turning home a Havertz cross.

Villarreal debutant Boulaye Dia provided the first real test for Mendy as the first half wore on with the Premier League side in charge.

Marcos Alonso had a fine chance to double the lead soon after but his low drive was turned away by Asenjo.

Goalscorer Ziyech was forced off with a shoulder injury just before the interval as Christian Pulisic replaced the Morocco international.

There were bookings for Antonio Rudiger and Tuchel before Alberto Moreno cracked against the crossbar with a vicious volley on the stroke of half-time as Chelsea went in ahead.

Moreno’s effort not only rattled the woodwork but also, too, Chelsea’s confidence as Villarreal came out after the interval on the front foot.

An error from Mendy allowed Gerard through on goal but the Blues goalkeeper recovered superbly to tip the Spain striker’s effort onto the post.

Other minor mistakes went unpunished but Unai Emery would have been pleased with the reaction he saw from his players in a similar vein to their Europa League final comeback.

Gerard Moreno, left, celebrates scoring

The equaliser arrived as a scruffy Rudiger pass was pounced on by Villarreal, with Dia squaring for Gerard to turn home.

Chelsea reacted well to being pegged back but could not find a winner in normal time, with the 30 minutes of extra-time proving an attritional affair.

Pulisic missed a half-decent chance while substitute Mason Mount forced a good save out of Asenjo.

The Villarreal goalkeeper then saved the first penalty of the shoot-out as Havertz was kept out.

But Cesar Azpilicueta, Alonso, Mount, Jorginho, Pulisic and Rudiger were all successful, while Mandi and Albiol’s poor efforts were saved by Kepa to win the cup for the Blues.

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HAKIM ZIYECH SCORES BRACE AS CHELSEA PLAY 2-2 DRAW IN TOTTENHAM FRIENDLY

Tottenham Hotspur fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 against Chelsea in an entertaining pre-season friendly at Stamford Bridge.

A brace from Blues winger Hakim Ziyech gave last season’s Champions League winners a lead their performance to that point deserved before Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn struck twice in 14 second-half minutes to wipe out their advantage.

Fresh from Sunday’s win over Arsenal in the opening game of “The Mind Series” — a preseason competition between the Blues, Spurs and the Gunners organised to support better mental health — Thomas Tuchel’s side started strongly before approximately 25,000 fans at Stamford Bridge.

Ziyech drove home his first from 20 yards after 16 minutes before netting again just three minutes into the second period. However, Spurs improved thereafter with Moura’s heavily-deflected shot halving the deficit and Bergwijn’s low finish restoring parity.

Tottenham were without Harry Kane after he failed to report back for preseason training as planned with the 28-year-old seeking a move to Manchester City but Son Heung-Min, who recently signed a new four-year deal, started in attack with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Sergio Reguilon among those also included in the line-up.

Chelsea made two changes to the team that beat the Gunners with N’Golo Kante and Marcus Alonso drafted in for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic.

Kante had excelled in the Champions League Final win against Manchester City — Cesar Azpilicueta brought the trophy out to a guard of honour and rapturous applause before kickoff — and he picked up that form in west London, helping the home side take firm control after Son’s fifth-minute low drive forced Edouard Mendy into an early save.

Spurs quickly looked overrun in midfield and as Moura picked up the ball and looked to drive over the halfway line, he was stopped in his tracks by a superb trademark tackle from Kante.

The loose ball fell to Ziyech and he took advantage of the space ahead of him to drive forward into a central position before unleashing a left-foot drive past new Spurs goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who joined the club in July on an initial season-long loan from Atalanta.

Chelsea continued to dominate and Timo Werner rounded Gollini to score just before the interval but his goal was ruled out — incorrectly — for offside.

Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo introduced Harry Winks for Hojbjerg at the interval as Chelsea brought on Pulisic and Tiemoue Bakayoko for Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi but the Blues initially continued in the ascendancy.

Four minutes into the second half Werner, Kai Havertz and Alonso combined to find Ziyech in the box and his shot took a nick off Eric Dier before finding the net.

Spurs began their revival just before the hour mark when Moura’s shot deflected heavily off Antonio Rudiger and looped into the net.

Tuchel then made seven changes — including academy graduate Dijon Sterling, who tested Collina moments after coming on with a low left-foot shot from the edge of the box — but the Blues inevitably looked more disjointed as mistakes began to creep in.

And Spurs capitalised with 20 minutes remaining when another substitute — Malang Sarr — lost the ball allowing the visitors to break, Son feeding Bergwijn to finish low through Mendy’s legs.

Ben Davies, another second-half introduction, almost won it with a left-foot shot which Ethan Ampadu cleared off the line but the spoils were shared in a match from which both sides will take positives as they build up to competitive action next week with Chelsea set to face Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup Final on Aug. 11.

Spurs play Arsenal in their final preseason friendly on Sunday.

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SOUTHAMPTON SIGNS DEFENDER TINO LIVRAMENTO FROM CHELSEA

Southampton have signed defender Tino Livramento from Chelsea on a five-year deal.

Livramento, 18, is the second teenager to join Southampton from Chelsea in the space of five days after the arrival of fellow defender Dynel Simeu.

Saints said: “Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce it has completed the signing of exciting young full-back Tino Livramento from Chelsea.

“A highly sought-after talent, Livramento arrives at St Mary’s on a five-year contract, bolstering Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad ahead of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.”

Livramento is an England under-20 international and was included on Chelsea’s bench last season in their Premier League win at Manchester City and the home defeat to Arsenal, both in May.

Saints boss Hasenhuttl said: “He’s one of the best young players in his position in the country and there were a lot of clubs who were interested in signing him, but finally he chose to join us.

“I think he has made a very good choice, and this will be an excellent place for him to continue his development and hopefully reach his full potential.”

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HAVERTZ, ABRAHAM ON TARGET AS CHELSEA BEAT ARSENAL IN PRESEASON FRIENDLY

Kai Havertz and Tammy Abraham fired Chelsea’s men’s side to a 2-1 preseason friendly win over Arsenal on Sunday in the Emirates.

In what was a double header with both the men’s and women’s teams competing to raise money for the charity Mind, Arsenal’s women’s side beat their London rivals 2-1 in the earlier game.

Havertz opened the scoring in the first half before Granit Xhaka pulled one back for Arsenal after the break. However, the lead only lasted four minutes before Abraham got Chelsea’s second.

Chelsea dominated possession for much of the match and were rewarded on 26 minutes when Timo Werner started a fast break and found Havertz whose right-footed shot went past Bernd Leno.

There was an injury worry for Arsenal on 40 minutes when Thomas Partey was forced off. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said after the game that Partey would have a scan on Monday but “at the moment it is not looking good.”

While the Partey situation is concerning for Arsenal, the match also saw the introduction of new £50 million signing Ben White.

Xhaka scored Arsenal’s equaliser on 69 minutes when he headed home from a Nicolas Pepe cross.

The Switzerland international had been linked with a move to Roma but Arteta said after the match that he would be staying with Arsenal this season.

“Granit is going to stay with us,” Arteta said. “He is a key member of our squad.”

Chelsea weren’t down for long, though, and Abraham scored a powerful right-footed shot into the bottom corner to give them the lead on 73 minutes.

In the early kick-off between the women’s sides, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 with goals from Katie McCabe and Freya Jupp.

Reanna Blade had levelled things for Chelsea on 80 minutes but 17-year-old Jupp — who was making her senior debut — was the star as she scored the winner for Arsenal on 83 minutes.

McCabe had given Arsenal the lead on 27 minutes but it was the younger players who impressed.

There were injury worries for both sides with Jordan Nobbs and Pernille Harder going off with knocks.

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BRENTFORD SIGN YOUNGSTER PEART-HARRIS ON A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT FROM CHELSEA

Brentford have raided west London rivals Chelsea for the signing of Myles Peart-Harris.

The teenage midfielder, an England Under-19 international, has moved for an undisclosed fee and signed a four-year deal – including the option for a further 12 months – with Thomas Frank’s newly-promoted side, who are gearing up for their maiden season in the Premier League.

Peart-Harris’ arrival comes during a busy week on the transfer front for Championship play-off winners Brentford, who broke their transfer record on Wednesday to sign Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer for £13.5million.

Earlier this week, the Bees also completed an £8.5m deal for midfielder Frank Onyeka from Danish club FC Midtjylland.

The trio represent Brentford’s first signings as a Premier League outfit.

Meanwhile, Peart-Harris is the latest youngster to depart Chelsea, having entered the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

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LEEDS UNITED COMPLETE LEWIS BATE SIGNING FROM CHELSEA

Leeds United are pleased to announce the signing of Lewis Bate.

The midfielder joins the Whites from fellow Premier League side Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.

Bate, who attracted interest from a number of clubs, has penned a three-year-deal at Elland Road, running until the summer of 2024.

The 18-year-old has been part of the Chelsea youth setup for the last 10 years and captained the Blues in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final.

Last season he made the step up to Under-23s football, making 20 appearances as Chelsea finished runners-up in Premier League 2 Division 1.

He has also won caps at youth level for England at both Under-17 and Under-18 level.

Bate becomes Leeds’ fifth signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Junior Firpo, Jack Harrison, Sean McGurk and Amari Miller.

He will initially link up with Mark Jackson’s Under-23s for the forthcoming season.

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OLIVIER GIROUD CLOSE TO €2 MILLION MILAN MOVE

AC Milan are closing in on a deal to sign Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud for €2 million, sources have reported.

Chelsea triggered an option last month to extend his contract by a further 12 months but the 36-year-old wants more regular game-time and is keen on a move to Italy.

Giroud fell down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge last season following the arrival of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig with Kai Havertz also preferred at times as a false nine by Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

The club are in the market to sign a forward this summer and are expected to try and prise Erling Haaland away from Borussia Dortmund. They are also keeping tabs on Harry Kane’s future at Tottenham Hotspur among other possible targets.

Chelsea are willing to part with Giroud, who moved across London from Arsenal in January 2018 and has scored 39 goals in 119 appearances.

Since joining Chelsea, the France international has won an FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League.

Giroud was a World Cup winner with in 2018 and part of the side which was knocked out of Euro 2020 at the round-of-16 stage by Switzerland on penalties.

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Chelsea prepared to bid £150m for Erling Haaland

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to tempt Borussia Dortmund with a £150m bid for Erling Braut Haaland.

The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for the Norway international since winning their second Champions League trophy in May.

Dortmund are allegedly keen to retain the services of the 20-year-old for at least one more season, despite the prospect of losing their most prized asset for a much lower fee next year.

However, according to 90 min, Chelsea believe that an offer of £150m will be enough to agree a transfer during the summer window.

The report adds that discussions have already been held with Haaland’s representatives, where it was determined that personal terms would not be a stumbling block.

While Real Madrid are also said to be keen on the frontman, they are not in a position to meet the player’s asking price in 2021.

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AC MILAN SIGN FIKAYO TOMORI ON PERMANENT DEAL

AC Milan have taken up their option to sign defender Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea permanently on a four-year contract, the club announced on Thursday.

Tomori joined the Rossoneri on an initial loan with the option to sign in January and he made his debut in a fiery Coppa Italia clash with derby rivals Inter Milan, which saw Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic red carded.

“AC Milan is delighted to announce the exercising of the option for the permanent transfer of Oluwafikayomi Oluwadamilola Tomori from Chelsea,” a club statement read. “The English defender, who made 22 appearances and scored one goal over the last season, will continue to play with the Club until 30 June 2025.”

Having made just one Premier League appearance for Chelsea in the first half of the campaign, Tomori established himself as a mainstay in the Milan backline as he played 17 times in Serie A, with Stefano Pioli’s side returning to the Champions League for the first time since 2014.

Tomori also played in both legs of the Europa League round-of-32 clash with Red Star Belgrade and the round-of-16 defeat to Manchester United.

The highlight for the 23-year-old was his standout performance in Milan’s stunning 3-0 victory away to Juventus, where he scored a towering header for the game’s third goal and his first for the club.

Milan was the fourth loan of Tomori’s career, having made his Premier League debut for Chelsea in 2016.

He spent time at Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City and Derby County before establishing himself as Chelsea first-team player in the 2019-20 season, where he made 22 appearances in all competitions. Tomori also made his England debut in 2019.

Despite leading the Serie A table for much of the campaign, Milan finished the season in second place, but secured Champions League qualification on the final day.