West Londoners steal a march on city-rivals Spurs by landing Brazil wide man.
Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts
Chelsea have confirmed the capture of Anzhi Makhachkala midfield player Willian subject to the Brazilian being successfully granted a work permit at his hearing with the Home Office in London on Wednesday, according to reports on the Blues’ official website.
The occasional Brazil international had been expected to sign for Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last week, after undergoing a medical at Spurs Lodge and discussing personal terms with the north London club.
However, that was before the west Londoners made a late £32 million bid of their own to land the coveted 25-year-old, with Blues owner Roman Abramovich even making a personal intervention himself in order to seal the deal.
All of which has seemingly swung the balance in Chelsea’s favour, with Willian having now agreed personal terms with the Uefa Europa League holders and successfully undergone his medical at Cobham.
Quizzed on the matter in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night’s huge Premier League clash with champions Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Portuguese said: “I think he’s already made his decision.”
And when asked if that was Chelsea, he nodded in the affirmative, before adding: “I don’t like to speak before time because football can be crazy. I know what the player wants, so in this moment we cannot hide. That is a possibility.”
However, the big-money transfer has now been agreed, with Willian in line to make his Chelsea debut in Friday night’s Uefa Super Cup final against Champions League holders Bayern Munich in Prague.