Chelsea have signed defensive midfielder Jorginho in a deal understood to be worth £57m, with new manager Maurizio Sarri tapping into former club Napoli to raid their ranks for his first signing at Stamford Bridge.
Sarri, who was unveiled as Chelsea manager on Saturday morning, travelled to London with Jorginho on Friday to finalise negotiations with the Blues’ transfer chief, director Marina Granovskaia, with both deals kick-starting Chelsea’s summer that is set to be particularly busy between now and the start of the Premier League season next month.
Having initially interested Manchester City, Chelsea have managed to steal Jorginho from under their Premier League rivals’ noses, although it is understood that the negotiations to bring Sarri to south-west London also included the inflated £57m fee for the midfielder – a deal that is significantly more than what City were willing to offer.
“I am absolutely ecstatic to be here at Chelsea,” Jorginho said after being unveiled. “It is not easy to become part of such a big team so I am very, very happy. I am excited to play in such an intense league, for a team that gives everything to play and win.”
Jorginho, who will wear the No 5 shirt this season that he inherits from defender Kurt Zouma, moved when he was a young boy from Imbituba in Brazil to Italy, the country that he now represents. Having won eight caps, he has enjoyed a full summer break due to Italy’s failure to reach the World Cup, and will join up with the rest of the squad on Monday to kick-on with pre-season.
Having initially been co-owned by Verona and Napoli in 2014, Jorginho struggled under former Napoli and Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez, but became an integral part of Sarri’s side and he went on to make 160 appearances for the Serie A side over five seasons, with his standout 2017/18 campaign catching the eye of a number of clubs in the Premier League – something that Chelsea were keen to point out, having trumped City in securing his signature.
“We are delighted Jorginho has chosen to join Chelsea,” Granoskaia said. “He was one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe and will become an important member of the playing squad.
“He has demonstrated his quality working under Maurizio Sarri and we are convinced his signing will help bring further success to Stamford Bridge.”
The club have not confirmed if Zouma will take up a new number this season or leave in the transfer window, having spent last season on loan with Stoke City where he made 37 appearances in their doomed Premier League campaign.
