Chelsea have completed the €45 million (£40m/$51m) signing of Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid in what is likely to be the club’s only signing of the summer transfer window.
Kovacic spent last season on loan at Stamford Bridge and has been able to join Chelsea permanently, despite the club’s transfer ban, due to the Blues holding his registration.
A fee for the 25-year-old was agreed last week, followed by personal terms, with Kovacic signing a five-year contract with the Europa League winners.
The Croatia international is delighted to be staying in west London for the long term after making 51 appearances for Chelsea last season under former manager Maurizio Sarri.
“I really enjoyed my season on loan with Chelsea, I feel comfortable at the club and like London and the Premier League very much,” Kovacic said in a statement.
“I am very happy to be able to join permanently.
“We had a successful year, winning the Europa League and I hope I can make a big contribution in the coming seasons.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea have opted against signing Kovacic’s fellow loanee Gonzalo Higuain on a permanent basis.
Higuain arrived from Juventus in January and the Blues had the option to extend his loan deal for €18m (£16m/$20m) or sign him permanently for €36m (£32m/$41m).
However, after Higuain mustered just five goals in 18 appearances in all competitions, Chelsea have decided not to activate the terms of their agreement with Juventus.
This means that Kovacic will likely be Chelsea’s only senior signing this summer after FIFA imposed a transfer ban on the club for the signing of under-18 players from overseas.
The ban is currently due to last until next summer and, though Chelsea have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have the sanction overturned, they have not asked for provisional measures to have the embargo frozen.
Chelsea’s next announcement to follow on from the Kovacic signing could be that of the appointment of Frank Lampard as the club’s new manager to replace Sarri who is now Juventus coach.
