23 year old Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne has signed a 4 year deal with German club Hamburg for a fee reported to be around £3m. The versatile defender, who could play anywhere at the back as well as a defensive midfielder, spent the last three seasons in England on loan at Wolves.
The England U-21 player has passed a medical and will join the team after this year’s European U-21 Championship, the club confirmed.
Mancienne joined Chelsea as a schoolboy and signed his first professional contract with the Blues in 2006. He managed just 6 appearances for the club before spending two consecutive years at Queen Park Rangers on loan. The loan spell at QPR was followed by 3 years on loan at Wolves. Mancienne was named the
Hamburg finished eighth in the Bundesliga this season, and Mancienne has outlined his ambition to get them back into Europe as soon as possible.
“Hamburg are a big club with a lot of tradition and some fantastic fans. It’s a big challenge for me to be able to play for this club. It would be great if I could play a part in helping Hamburg get back into Europe.”
Mancienne will be reunited with Hamburg’s sporting director Frank Arnesen, who was the technical director at Chelsea during the defender’s time at the club. Arnesen expressed his delight on the prospect of being reunited with the former Chelsea Young Player of the Year (2008-09).
“I know Michael from Chelsea and have followed his development for years. I am aware of his great potential.”
