Chelsea have completed the signing of defender Emerson Palmieri from AS Roma, the club’s official website have confirmed.
The defender has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Blues and becomes Antonio Conte’s second signing of the January transfer window following the arrival of Ross Barkley from Everton earlier in the month.
“Emerson Palmieri has today become the latest addition to the Chelsea squad after completing a transfer from Italian side Roma,” a statement read on Chelsea’s official website.
“The 23-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract and will wear the number 33 shirt.”
As per Sky Sports, the clubs have agreed a deal of £17.6m plus £7m in add-ons for the Brazilian to move to Stamford Bridge.
Conte has been desperate to sign a new left-back to ease some pressure off first-choice Marcos Alonso. And after the Italian manager allowed Kenedy to leave the club for Newcastle United on loan until the end of the season, it became clear he wanted to sign a back-up for the high-flying Spaniard.
Emerson expressed his delight after joining the reigning Premier League champions and told the club’s official website: “I came here because it’s a great team with a great history. Today I am realising one of my dreams to pull on the shirt of such a great club.”
“English football is something I have been watching since I was 15 years old. It is a really beautiful game over here but it is going to be even more beautiful to play it.”
“We are delighted to welcome Emerson to the club. He is a young and talented player who strengthens the squad and will provide excellent competition for places as we pursue success in three different competitions,” Chelsea director, Marina Granovskaia added.
Emerson’s Roma teammate Edin Dzeko, however, will not be following his footsteps to join the Blues because of the amount of money and issues regarding the length of the contract requested by the player, reports Sky Sports.
The Bosnia international reportedly was asking for a three-and-half-year deal worth around £120,000 per week to leave the Italian club.
Following Dzeko’s snub to move to the Stamford Bridge, the Premier League champions have since shifted their attention to Olivier Giroud after Arsenal agreed a £60m deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Giroud is primed to join Chelsea but holds the key to Arsenal’s hopes of completing a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang after the Gunners have agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund.
As per the Mirror, Arsene Wenger could be forced to let the French international go to Stamford Bridge to make the Aubameyang deal happen.
If the Blues complete Giroud signing, Conte will then allow striker Michy Batshuayi to leave the club on loan to Dortmund, where he would replace Aubameyang, for the rest of the season.
Though it is reported Batshuayi was free to discuss the terms of loan with Dortmund and the clubs have agreed a deal in principle, Conte said the Belgian striker trained with the squad and without Alvaro Morata, he is expected to lead the attack against Bournemouth on Wednesday.
“He trained well and I prepared the game with him,” said Conte.
“It’s not the best situation to face but we have to. I have Morata injured and I don’t have other options. It’s not been easy to prepare.”
It is going to be a thrilling deadline day for Chelsea, Arsenal and Dortmund.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.