Chelsea sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has signed for Chelsea

Chelsea have announced the signing of Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The 27-year-old midfielder has signed a five-year contract and is expected to earn €150,000 per week. It was also revealed that he will be wearing the number 4 jersey.

The Spaniard said: 'Firstly I would like to thank everyone at FC Barcelona where I enjoyed three wonderful years. It was my childhood club and I will always be proud and honoured that I had a chance to play for such a great team.

'I do feel that I have unfinished business in the Premier League and now is the right time to return.

'I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice. They match my footballing ambitions with their hunger and desire to win trophies. They have an amazing squad of players and an incredible manager. I am fully committed to this team and I can't wait to start playing.'

This will be Fabregas’ second stint in the Premier League after he spent eight seasons at Arsenal from 2003 to 2011, before moving back to his boyhood club Barcelona.

Fabregas is currently in Brazil for the World Cup as part of the Spain squad looking to defend their title.

Arsenal had the chance to re-sign him, as there was a clause in his Barcelona contract that allowed them to sign him back, but the North London club decided not to pursue Fabregas which allowed him to sign for Chelsea.

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona: http://t.co/HisZOFO45O pic.twitter.com/TEGC0E6dhs

— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) June 12, 2014

Cesc: "Arsenal decided not to take the first option and therefore it wasn't meant to be. I wish them well in the future."

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) June 12, 2014

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona release a rather bitter farewell statement that underlines a ‘downward trend’ in Fabregas’s statistics over the last 3 years at the club.