Chelsea confirms agreement to sign Hazard

Posted Tuesday, June 05, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Chelsea has announced that it has agreed terms with Lille for the transfer of Eden Hazard.

The 21-year-old Belgian international has agreed personal terms with the club and today passed a medical examination with the reigning European champions.

Having spent the summer being pursued by not only the Blues, but also Premier League champions Manchester City and Manchester United, Hazard declared that he would join the Blues last week - as exclusively revealed on Goal.com hours prior to his official announcement - and will now join the Champions League winners in July for preseason training.

Hazard scored 21 goals in 48 appearances for Lille last season, also making 18 assists as the club as it finished third in Ligue 1, and has today declared his delight at signing for the London club.

Following his medical today, he told Chelsea's official website: "I'm delighted to finally arrive here, it's a wonderful club and I can't wait to get started."

The highly-rated Belgian also explained his decision as to why he selected a move to Chelsea, when for so long it had appeared as though the two Manchester clubs were in pole position for his signature.

"I chose Chelsea because I said that I will go to England" explained Hazard, speaking to RMC. "After, there was a match with Man United, but Chelsea have a better project. It’s a team who always play the first roles. They won the Champions League and it’s the proof.

"My priority was to play, and at Chelsea I can do it. At Real or at Barcelona, at 21 years, it is more difficult."