Chelsea have confirmed the signing of midfield enforcer Tiemoue Bakayoko from Ligue 1 outfit Monaco, it was announced on Saturday.
The 22-year-old France international has penned a five-year-deal with the Blues and it was revealed on the club’s official website that the new signing will wear the number 14 jersey.
Before Chelsea, Bakayoko moved to Monaco from Stade Rennais back in 2014 for £7 million and was instrumental in helping the French outfit win the Ligue 1 title.
The Premier League champions made the announcement on their official Twitter account on Saturday by posting a picture of the star with his new shirt.
Welcome to Chelsea, @TimoeB08!
? https://t.co/XA1aBMBFU8#BakasBlue pic.twitter.com/IlrH2bIBlC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 15, 2017
The newest addition to Stamford Bridge said during his first interview with the club that moving to Chelsea was a natural progression for him and was quoted on the website: “I am very happy to be here and to join this great team. I have grown up watching Chelsea. Signing was the natural thing for me because it is a club I loved very much in my childhood.
“I am now looking forward to evolving under this fantastic coach and alongside so many great team-mates.”
The young star has been linked with a move to the London club over recent weeks and the 22-year-old posted a number of cryptic tweets throughout the transfer window which suggested he was joining the Blues.
Before the move was finalised the Frenchman took a picture of the Chelsea training complex and captioned it with “soon”, but then contradicted it with tweets suggesting that he was flying to Monaco on Friday.
Now his transfer has been confirmed the former Monaco ace will join fellow new recruits Willy Caballero from Manchester City and Roma’s Antonio Rudiger in the club’s efforts to retain the Premier League title.