Chelsea have confirmed the arrival of Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a season-long loan deal.
Kovacic has been desperate to leave Madrid this summer in search of regular playing time.
The 24-year-old was even prepared to boycott training in a bid to secure a move and has now signed for Chelsea.
“I am really happy and excited to be here at Chelsea,” he told the club’s official website. “It is an amazing feeling. I will try to do my best for this club.
"It is a new league for me, the beginning is always tough but I am sure the coach and my new team-mates will help me and I am looking forward to a great season.”
Madrid reluctantly offered the Croatia international to Maurizio Sarri’s side in a bid to sweeten a deal for Thibaut Courtois.
Kovacic has been heavily linked with a Premier League move this summer and will now bolster Chelsea’s midfield options.
Madrid signed Kovacic from Inter in August 2015 but the midfielder has struggled for first-team opportunities in that time, never starting 20 league games in a single campaign.
Of the 117 players that have attempted at least 100 dribbles in the last three La Liga campaigns, Kovacic has the best success rate (80.4%).
