Chelsea have completed the signing of Danny Drinkwater from Leicester City for a fee of around £35m, after the club applied for a two-hour extension to the transfer deadline on Thursday night to complete the move.
The deal had been contingent on Leicester bringing in a replacement midfielder, and the Foxes are now expected to announce the signing of Portugal’s Adrien Silva from Sporting. Drinkwater, 27, has signed a five-year contract.
Chelsea endured a frustrating deadline day, losing out on Fernando Llorente to Tottenham and having Ross Barkley reject a switch to Stamford Bridge despite agreeing a fee with Everton. However, late in the day the club wrapped up the signing of Davide Zappacosta from Torino for an initial £23m, who is expected to provide competition for Victor Moses at right wing-back, and they have added Drinkwater at the last.
“I’m delighted to be a Chelsea player and can’t wait to get started,” said Drinkwater. “It has been a long journey to get here but I am very happy and am looking forward to helping the club win more trophies.”
The England international, who started his career at Manchester United before moving to Leicester in January 2012, will link up with N’Golo Kanté in midfield with whom he built an impressive partnership which helped to win the 2015-16 Premier League title.
Chelsea’s technical director, Michael Emenalo, said: “Danny is not only a Premier League winner but also has Champions League experience which will be invaluable for us this season. He is a typically combative English midfielder with a cultured passing technique and his arrival significantly strengthens our midfield options.”
