Eden Hazard has completed his £32 million transfer from French club Lille and is now a Chelsea player. A statement on the Chelsea web site said simply:
“Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce we have 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. He will join the club in July when the players return for pre-season training.”
In an interview with French radio station RMC Hazard explained why he picked Chelsea over Manchester United saying:
“I’ve always said I wanted to play in England. There was a struggle between Chelsea and United, but according to me Chelsea has the best project,” Hazard said.
“I was in advanced contact with both clubs and I spoke to both coaches. I want to be playing in the Champions League every year.
“When they won the Champions League, I told myself: ‘Why not Chelsea?’ The team is young and I have a better chance to play there.
“At 21, Real Madrid or Barcelona would have been more difficult for me. If I play well enough at Chelsea, I could win my place in the starting team and my priority is to play.”
He added:
“I spoke with Abramovich, he is very simple and loves football. We were on the same wavelength, he wants to confirm Chelsea’s position at the top. Chelsea have made a good investment for me but I did not put any pressure on them.”
Hazard also sounded also former Chelsea star Joe Cole, who played for Lille last season about moving to Chelsea:
“I spoke to Joe Cole and what he said above all was that Chelsea was the right club for me.
As somebody who loves the club himself, he said he could really see me in the shirt so, when I see him next, I’ll tell him he was right.”
Chelsea have put together quite an attacking force for next season. At the moment it looks like Chelsea will play 4-2-3-1 with the three attacking players being German international Marko Marin (who Chelsea signed earlier this summer), Juan Mata and Hazard. Ahead of them will be Fernando Torres. That is not bad attacking foursome.
I cannot see where Daniel Sturridge will fit into the Chelsea line-up next season, especially if Chelsea sign a top striker like Hulk this summer to partner Torres.
Lack of speed and creativity hurt Chelsea last year as they slumped to their lowest league position in the Abramovich era. Looks like that problem has been rectified.
Now all Chelsea need to do is find somebody to manage the side!
