Chelsea have officially announced the departure of Andreas Christensen from the club after eight seasons.
This is the end of a 10-year stay at the club, however, from where he would move on to Barcelona on a free transfer after almost a year of being linked to the club.
Chelsea praised his dedication to the club in the eight years he was a senior player while confirming his transfer with the following statement: “Chelsea Football Club thanks Andreas for his contribution to our success in the last decade and wishes him well in his future career.”
The 26-year-old Denmark international moved to England from Denmark in 2012 but made his senior debut for the club in 2014. He was on the fringes of the team and was loaned out a few times in typical Chelsea fashion to prepare him for the club or for a sale.
It turned out to be the former and after two impressive loan spells with German Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach, Christensen was recalled in the 2017/18 season and thrust into the side, where he featured in 27 league games.
Return to squad role
However, he would go on to become a squad player and featured in less games than in the 2017/18 season. He was a solid back up to have for all the coaches he played under, however, as evidenced by Thomas Tuchel who fought to keep the defender at Stamford Bridge before he chose to move on from the club.
He becomes the second confirmed defensive departure from the club after Antonio Rudiger, who moved to Real Madrid and with whom he will become rivals when El Clasico comes round next season.
More departures from the heart of the club’s defence are still expected which will put the club between a rock and a very hard place in the summer transfer window.
Other departures from Chelsea
The Danish centre back is the fifth player to leave the club this far, with youth defender Jake Clarke-Salter and midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Charly Musonda joining him and Rudiger as confirmed exits.
Chelsea, though armed with £200 million for their business in the summer, face a big problem in getting all the replacements they need.
