• Premier League

Chelsea confirm Luiz capture

ESPN staff
February 1, 2011
David Luiz has completed his move to Chelsea © PA Photos
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Chelsea have announced the signing of defender David Luiz from Benfica for a fee of up to £21.5 million.

The Portuguese club confirmed in a statement that they had sold the Brazilian defender to the London club for a fee of €25m, with midfielder Nemanja Matic moving in the opposite direction. It is believed that the Blues will pay around £17m up front, with a further £4.5m paid in instalments and incentives.

It had been feared that a deal for the cultured 23-year-old had fallen through when Benfica broke off negotiations last week, but a late bid from Chelsea on Monday was enough to rescue the move and force through an agreement.

Luiz has been in fine form for Benfica in recent seasons and will compete with Alex and John Terry for a place in the heart of Carlo Ancelotti's defence. He was named Portugal's Player of the Year for 2010 as he helped Benfica win the domestic Double and has carved out a reputation as a defender of some repute since joining the club in 2007.

He will be unveiled by the club later in the week, along with fellow new signing Fernando Torres - who also joined the club in a blockbuster £50m deal from Liverpool.

Matic, who is currently on loan at Dutch side Vitesse, will move to the Estadio da Luz in the summer.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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