Chelsea Agrees To Sign Alvaro Morata

Premier League champions have finalised a fee with Madrid, believed to be in the region of €80 million (£71m).

Alvaro Morata breaks silence after agreeing Chelsea transfer
‘Chelsea Football Club and Real Madrid have agreed terms for the transfer of Alvaro Morata to Stamford Bridge,’ read a statement from Chelsea.
‘The move is now subject to him agreeing personal terms and passing a medical,’

The move reportedly comes at the request of Antonio Conte, who had attempted to sign the Spain international for Chelsea last summer.

Morata’s arrival will now end Conte’s search for a new leading striker having lost out to Manchester United in the race to sign Romelu Lukaku.

Morata is currently in Los Angeles for the start of Real Madrid’s pre-season campaign but is now due to travel to London to finalise his transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Alvaro Morata’s La Liga season
Total appearances

• 26

Goals

• 15

Starts

• 14

Assists

• 4

The deal will make the 24-year-old the most expensive Spanish player in history as it surpasses the £50m Chelsea paid to Liverpool for Fernando Torres in 2011.

Morata was close to joining Manchester United earlier this summer and had even agreed personal terms on a move to Jose Mourinho’s side. But United were reluctant to match Madrid’s £71m asking price and instead opted to sign Lukaku, who was Chelsea’s first-choice target.

Morata will now replace Diego Costa, who has already been told by Antonio Conte that he is no longer part of the first-team plans at Stamford Bridge.

Earlier this year, Morata admitted in an interview with The Guardian that he was keen to work under Conte and says he is ‘indebted’ to the Italian after his decision to sign him for Juventus, although the pair did not work together as Conte left that summer to join Italy’s national team.