WELCOME HAZARD
Real Madrid announce £130m transfer of Eden Hazard on five-year deal with medical set for next week
EDEN HAZARD has finally secured his dream move to Real Madrid after the club confirmed he has signed a five-year deal.
The Belgium superstar will be unveiled as a Los Blancos player on June 13 after passing a medical.
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It comes after the two clubs eventually agreed a transfer fee in the region of £130million that included an initial £88.5m figure plus add-ons.
Real boss Zinedine Zidane had made the Belgian his top target this summer, with the Frenchman apparently in regular contact with the winger for several months.
Hazard will be given Cristiano Ronaldo's old No7 shirt with the club not willing to take his favoured No10 shirt from Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric.
In a lengthy statement farewell to Chelsea fans, he wrote on Facebook: "Leaving Chelsea is the biggest and toughest decision in my career to date. Now it’s in the open I would like to put on record one thing was always clear to me, I have loved every moment at Chelsea and not once did I ever consider, nor would I have left for any other Club.
"Chelsea and especially Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first. I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again."
He has already been welcomed to the club by former team-mate Thibaut Courtois who took a sly dig at old club Chelsea.
He wrote on Twitter: "Welcome to the best club in the world!!!"
Chelsea left an emotional farewell message to the 28-year-old following his departure.
Director Marina Granovskaia said: "The memories he leaves us with will not fade.
"He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously.
"He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with."
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The club also tweeted a highlight reel that included a host of his goals and trophy-winning performances.
He signed for Chelsea in 2012 and will be regarded as one of the club's most talented players in history having won the Premier League twice, FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League on two occasions.
Hazard bagged 110 goals in 352 appearances but had refused to extent his contract that expired next summer.
The forward effectively said his goodbye to fans after the Europa League final win.
He said: "I think it’s a goodbye but in football you never know.
"My dream was to play in the Premier League and I did this for seven years in one of the biggest clubs in the world and now it’s maybe time for a new challenge."
Eden Hazard's statement to Chelsea fans in full
To my Chelsea friends and family,
You now know that I will be joining Real Madrid. It’s no secret that it was my dream to play for them since I was a young boy just scoring my first goal. I have tried my very best not to distract myself or the team through this difficult period of speculation and media attention, especially the last 6 months.
Now the Clubs have reached an agreement I hope you understand I had to pursue my next chapter, just as each and every one of you should when you have the chance to pursue your dreams. Leaving Chelsea is the biggest and toughest decision in my career to date. Now it’s in the open I would like to put on record one thing was always clear to me, I have loved every moment at Chelsea and not once did I ever consider, nor would I have left for any other Club.
I was only 21 when I joined, so I have grown up as a man and a player with all of you, you have helped me become Captain of the Belgium National team after all. There have of course been tough times, for the team as a whole and for me personally, this is professional football. However, football to me is about having a ball at my feet, playing games and enjoying every moment, we are lucky to play the beautiful game and this is always my advice to those who ask for a coaching tip! Play football and have fun!
Even when we were not playing well, I tried to do my best and this has been thanks to your amazing support. That fighting spirit, desire and the refusal to ever give up is part of the culture here at Chelsea and it comes directly from you.
When I think back over my special moments in a Chelsea shirt, there are so many, we are lucky to win many more games than we have lost. Those who know me understand it is not me to list what I have won, all I can say is each and every award both as a team and as an individual have been incredible. One day I will be able to sit down over a beer and talk about or laugh with pride about my missed penalty that set up my header to win the league against Palace, or those goals against Tottenham, Arsenal or Liverpool.
The memories are so vivid because of the atmosphere and occasion you create, I hope you always remember them with pride, as I do. Whether it’s on tour in the USA, or at Sunderland on a Tuesday night, in Russia on a Thursday, or of course EVERY game at The Bridge – you’ve always supported me and encouraged me to play football and be me – Like I have enjoyed myself I hope you have enjoyed yourselves, I am only sorry not leave with a defending award amongst my honours!
We have many great players and my proudest moments were always as part of the team. We’ve won the FA Cup, League Cups, Europa Leagues and Premier Leagues all as a family. Each one so special in its own way and of course the game in Baku a couple of weeks ago is the perfect way to sign off from a long tough season after the World Cup.
Chelsea and especially Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first. I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again.
Before I go, one last thank you to everyone at the Club for their tremendous effort as we lived through every moment. To all of my ex-Colleagues we will say our goodbyes at the right time but I must thank the owner Mr Abramovich and his board for helping me realise not one, but two dreams, my first in becoming a Chelsea player and today my second, becoming a player at Real Madrid.
I wish each and every one of you the very best my friends.
Eden
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