July 06, (THEWILL) – Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, has completed a move to Atletico Madrid, signing a one-year deal with the La Liga side.
The 33-year-old defender had one year remaining on his contract with Chelsea but was allowed to leave for free as he seeks a new challenge. Azpilicueta, who joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2012, leaves the club after making an impressive 508 appearances. During his time at Stamford Bridge, he secured numerous titles, including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and Europa League.
Azpilicueta’s departure follows Joao Felix’s return to Atletico Madrid after his loan spell with Chelsea, potentially reuniting him with former teammate, Alvaro Morata. Earlier today, the defender shared a heartfelt farewell to the Chelsea fans saying: “I’d like to say so many things but I’m going to keep it short. I want to say every time you are part of this club, you give your best. That’s how I learned to be part of Chelsea.
“The demands are extremely high, the commitment to the club, to the fans, every single day, even in challenging moments when it may be easier to take a different path. That’s the moment to show the personality, the soul of the club, all together, pushing in the same direction. I know Chelsea will be back where it should be.”
Chelsea, under the new leadership of Mauricio Pochettino, remain determined to trim their bloated squad. In addition to Azpilicueta’s departure, Kai Havertz has made a permanent move to Arsenal, while Mason Mount ended his 18-year stay at Chelsea by joining Manchester United. N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy have also completed moves away, with Kante joining Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and Mendy signing for Al Ahli.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
