Chelsea tie up £32m signing of Hazard

Eden Hazard last night finally completed his move to Chelsea after passing a medical with the European champions.

Almost a week after announcing he was moving to Stamford Bridge, the 21-year-old Belgium international was officially confirmed as a Blues player. Hazard cost a reported £32 million from Lille, the second most expensive player in Chelsea history behind Fernando Torres.

As Chelsea were preparing to announce Hazard’s signing, the player gave an interview to French radio station RMC, where he revealed his reasons for choosing to join them. The Blues reportedly won a bidding war for his services and are said to be paying him around £170,000 a week over a five-year contract.

Manchester United and Manchester City had been favourites to land the Ligue 1 player of the year, but Chelsea’s Champions League triumph turned his head.

“When they won the Champions League I told myself, ‘Why not Chelsea?’,” Hazard said, revealing he also felt he would get more game time at Stamford Bridge. “There was a struggle between Chelsea and United but, for me, Chelsea has the best project.”

Hazard and pre-contract signing Marko Marin are players Roman Abramovich appears to believe can help deliver exciting football. Another is reportedly Porto forward Hulk, who was said yesterday to have agreed a contract with the Blues.