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Chelsea sign Fofana, Santos early in transfer window

Published:Sunday | January 8, 2023 | 1:27 AM
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly looks out from the stands before the English Premier League football match between his side and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London on August 27.
AP
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly looks out from the stands before the English Premier League football match between his side and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London on August 27.

AP:

CHELSEA’S SECOND transfer window under its American ownership is proving to be as busy as its first.

Two more players were signed yesterday – Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana and 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos – to follow on from the purchase on Thursday of France defender Benoît Badiashile.

The 20-year-old Fofana signed a six-and-a-half-year deal after joining from Norwegian champion Molde, where he scored 24 goals and had 10 assists in 65 games.

“Hello dear fans, I’m here, I’ve arrived well and I’m very happy to sign for the club of my dreams,” Fofana said.

Santos, who has represented Brazil at under-20 level, also looks one for the future after signing from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama.

BIG OPPORTUNITY

“It’s a very big opportunity for me,” said Santos, who is coming off a first and only season as a regular in Vasco da Gama’s midfield. “This is a big club, playing in big competitions like the Premier League so I am very excited.”

Chelsea didn’t disclose the fees spent on Fofana and Santos but they have reportedly arrived for around £25 million (US$30 million) combined. That adds to the reported £34 million (US$40 million) spent on Badiashile.

Chelsea underwent a change in ownership at the end of last season, with Roman Abramovich’s 19-year reign ending and a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly – a part-owner of the LA Dodgers – purchasing the club for £2.5 billion (then US$3.2 billion).

In the summer transfer window, Chelsea spent nearly US$300 million on new players – a record amount by an English team – with the likes of uncapped French centre back Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling joining for big fees.