LAST UPDATE | 4 Jul 2022
Denmark defender Andreas Christensen following the end of his contract at Chelsea.
Christensen moves to the Spanish giants on a four-year deal, with his buy-out clause set at €500 million euros (£447m).
The 26-year-old will be officially presented as a Barcelona player on Thursday, the La Liga club have announced.
Welcome to Barcelona, Andreas Christensen! pic.twitter.com/mHy0sO9FvK
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 4, 2022
Barcelona said in a statement on the club website: “Christensen is a powerful centre-back who is excellent in the air.
“Technically proficient with the ball at his feet also, he is a perfect fit for the Blaugrana back four.”
Christensen joined Chelsea from Brondby in February 2012 and was part of the team which won the 2020–21 Champions League.
After his departure from Stamford Bridge was confirmed at the end of the season, Christensen wrote on Instagram: “I was a young boy at Chelsea with all the hopes and fears of a player starting his career, I’m grateful to the whole club for making my dream come true.
“Having spent 10 amazing years at this club, I felt now was the right time for a new beginning for me and my family.
“Mentally the last few months have been tough as it’s not been an easy decision to leave this club and the fans.”
Earlier on Monday, Barca announced the signing of Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie on a free transfer from Italian champions AC Milan.
“The player will sign a contract until 30 June 2026 and his buy-out clause will be set at 500 million euros,” Barcelona said in a statement.
Kessie, 25, spent the past five years in Milan after first arriving in Italy when he joined Atalanta in 2015.
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋! 😏
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 4, 2022
Welcome, Kessie! 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/wG051AUnpT
He scored seven times in 39 appearances for Milan last season as the club won the Serie A title for the first time since 2011.
The Ivorian will be presented by the club on Wednesday.
- With reporting from AFP
