LONDON, May 31 -- Ukraine striker Andrily Chelsea signed a four-year contract
with Chelsea on Wednesday, completing his transfer from AC Milan for an
undisclosed fee.
Shevchenko was signing the contract
[chelseafc.com] |
The 29-year-old signed the contract after agreeing personal terms and passing
a medical.
"I am here for the challenge and the excitement of the Premier League," said
the Ukraine captain.
Because the exact fee has not been disclosed, it is not known whether it
beats the 30 million pounds Manchester United gave Leeds in 2002 for Rio
Ferdinand.
It is however a club record fee for Chelsea, eclipsing the 24.5m they paid
for Lyon's Michael Essien in 2005.
Shevchenko, former European Footballer of the Year, added: "I am going from
one big club to another and joining a team of champions.
"There is a right moment to join a football club and I think I have arrived
here at the perfect time.
"The Champions League has to be a realistic target for next season but it is
not just about the Champions League. Chelsea is going for their third
Premiership as well and I like the club's mentality of wanting to win every game
they play.
"I have followed Mr (Jose) Mourinho's career carefully for the last few years
and have been hugely impressed with the way he manages.
"He puts team ethic before individual expression which is the way I believe
great teams are created.
"Had money been my motivation for coming, I would probably have stayed in
Milan.
"I am pleased that Chelsea managed to conclude everything before the World
Cup - I can go to Germany with a clear mind and proud to be a Chelsea player."
Chelsea manager Mourinho said: "Today is a day when the dream became reality.
Andriy has always been my first choice for Chelsea since I arrived.
"Before it was not possible, now it is for real.He has great qualities,
ambition, discipline, tactical awareness and of course he is a great goalscorer.
"I did not need to meet with him to convince him about Chelsea, in the same
way we did not need to talk a lot about why I wanted him. Everybody knows him as
a player, tactically he can play in the Chelsea system no doubt.
