Chelsea have secured the services of left-back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano in a five-year deal. The transfer is valued at approximately £16.3m, with an additional £1.7m in potential add-ons.
The 28-year-old expressed his excitement, stating, "This is a dream for me as Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world. It is a big opportunity but I am prepared and will work hard to help the team achieve success."
Chavarria's journey to Stamford Bridge has been described as unconventional, as he did not make his La Liga debut until the age of 24. He spent four years at Rayo Vallecano, making 125 appearances and developing into a dependable top-flight full-back.
His performance against Real Madrid in November, where he faced Xabi Alonso's team, reportedly left an impression on the current Chelsea manager. Chavarria's signing adds depth to the left-back position following Marc Cucurella's £51.8m move to Real Madrid in June. He joins new right-back Marco Palestra, who arrived from Atalanta for £47m in July.
The deal was reportedly difficult to conclude, with Rayo Vallecano initially demanding Chavarria's £42.4m release clause be met. Sources described talks as "complicated" due to Rayo's strong financial position and their belief that Chavarria's statistics justified the price.