Chelsea confirm permanent signing of Mateo Kovacic – Details

Posted Tuesday, July 02, 2019 by 101 GREAT GOALS

Premier League giants Chelsea have this evening announced Mateo Kovacic's permanent arrival from Real Madrid.

Blues stint

25-year-old midfielder Kovacic made the move to Stamford Bridge last summer, on a season-long loan deal.

After once again struggling for game-time with Real during the 2017/18 campaign, the Croat was deemed surplus to requirements by the then-European champions, with Chelsea having reportedly beaten off competition from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus to seal his signature.

As such, Kovacic's addition was, at the time, viewed as quite a coup for the Blues.

What subsequently unfolded during his debut season in London, though, proved a somewhat hit-and-miss affair.

Solid, enterprising displays on the part of the 25-year-old over the last 10 months were too often followed by lifeless, ineffective performances, with Chelsea's fans having made clear their frustrations with the lack of attacking impetus showcased by Kovacic throughout the campaign.

Nevertheless, though, the pure talent possessed by the 52-time capped Croatian international has never been in question, a fact which the board at Stamford Bridge no doubt took into account when making a definitive decision on Kovacic's future today.

Chelsea sign Kovacic

As was first announced by Real Madrid, Chelsea have this evening made Kovacic's signing permanent:

Official Announcement: Kovacic.#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) 1 July 2019

The Blues themselves have since also confirmed the news, with the former Inter Milan man having put pen-to-paper on a 5-year deal in London:

.@Mateo_Kova23 is here to stay! 🙌
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) 1 July 2019

Though there has been no official confirmation of the fee involved, it is widely-reported that Chelsea splashed out just over £40 million on Kovacic's signature.

The Premier League giants of course managed to sign Kovacic in spite of their FIFA-imposed transfer ban.

This comes as a result of Kovacic having already been registered as a Chelsea player last season, meaning the Blues did not need to add his registration rights as a new name for the 2019/20 campaign.

'Very proud'

Speaking in an interview with Chelsea's official website a short time ago, the latest permanent arrival at Stamford Bridge explained:

'I really enjoyed my season on loan with Chelsea, I feel comfortable at the club and like London and the Premier League very much. I am very happy to be able to join permanently.

'We had a successful year, winning the Europa League and I hope I can make a big contribution in the coming seasons.'