Official: Matic re-joins Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

SL Benfica have confirmed to the Portuguese stock exchange that they have accepted a €25 million bid from Chelsea for midfielder Nemanja Matic.

The Serbian midfielder, who left Stamford Bridge in 2011 to join the Lisbon-based club, is currently undergoing a medical in London - but his former club have wasted no time in releasing an official press statement confirming his sale.

At €25 million (£20.7 million), Matic represents the sort of Hollywood acquisition of José Mourinho's first reign as Chelsea boss, but with financial fairplay regulations to meet, the move will no doubt be partly-funded by Kevin de Bruyne's impending transfer to Wolfsburg for £16 million.

The transfer was formally announced shortly after 5pm British time on the official Chelsea website.

Matic has signed a five-year deal, and will wear the number 21 jersey that has been vacated by the on-loan Marko Marin.

José Mourinho had this to say: 'I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea. He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions'.

Matic - a full Serbian international - is likely to go straight into the squad that faces Manchester United on Sunday.

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[1chelsea 864]

Am in welcome back

[Weckerz 3,781]

Don't know him well but reading the forum and seeing the envy of other clubs I'm sure we've made a great deal, good luck to him!

[bushman 2,043]

Signed, sealed & delivered. Let´s go to get those Manures.

[xPetrCechx 13,548]

:blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf:

[Fernando 6,376]

Good job Chelsea.

Now any word if it's true we have given them 2 players on loan?

Or Benfica just accepted the offer of 20 million?

Thanks

[kobematabryant 400]

Awful signing...

[We Hate Scouse 10,261]

Good job Chelsea.

Now any word if it's true we have given them 2 players on loan?

Or Benfica just accepted the offer of 20 million?

Thanks

€25 million only.

[Fernando 6,376]

€25 million only.

Really?

WTF happen to Benfica trying to hustle us?

And I thought he had a buy out clause.

How the hell we pull this of?

Whoever did it, deserves a raise!

[lionsden 4,689]

Welcome back. Will no doubt prove to be an outstanding success.

[pWneR 230]

Awful signing...

Wat?

Sent from my LT30p using Tapatalk

[BOSS 372]

Great signing!!!

[Spike 12,049]

Really?

WTF happen to Benfica trying to hustle us?

And I thought he had a buy out clause.

How the hell we pull this of?

Whoever did it, deserves a raise!

Benfica aren't exactly financially healthy from what I've read; so maybe their hand was forced. They did make quite a tidy profit regardless.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Amazing signing!!! So happy right now!

[The only place to be 11,313]

Great business done by the club. 6th choice AM out and a first-team mainstay (hopefully) in with just a bit of extra cash on top.

Three days training and maybe he could start on Sunday.

[didierforever 7,349]

Awful signing...

[Soul Caliber X 27]

Imagine when he steps on to the field and the music starts playing " Guess who's back? back again. Matic's back, tell a friend."

[Rmpr 8,977]

Nice deal, especially considering we are basically trading a 6th choice AM to a very good DM (which we desperately need).

Oh if we only had a striker...