Jules Kounde’s transfer from Sevilla to Chelsea has finally been confirmed. (Photo by Hugo Pfeiffer/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of centre-back Jules Kounde from Sevilla.
The France international has agreed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge and the Blues have paid a ÂŁ55m fee to secure his signature, beating Barcelona to the transfer with the Catalonians also having been interested in luring him from Andalusia this summer.
Kounde now becomes Chelsea’s third signing of the summer and their second in central defence, following the arrivals of Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli and England forward Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.
The France international has been one of the most impressive young central defenders in the top European leagues in the past couple of seasons, and is delighted to be joining Thomas Tuchel’s side.
,’ Kounde said. ‘
For Tuchel, Kounde’s arrival adds much needed depth to his defence alongside Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah.
,’ Tuchel explained. ‘
23-year-old Kounde signed for Sevilla three years ago from Bordeaux in his homeland, with the La Liga club paying just over ÂŁ25m for his services. He won the UEFA Europa League with his new side at the end of his first season in Spain, and was part of the French national team squad which emerged victorious in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League.
Chelsea have been in the market for new centre-backs this summer as they look to reinforce their defence following the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers, the former joining Real Madrid and the latter Barcelona.
They were heavily linked with a move for Matthijs de Ligt after he made his desire to leave Juventus clear, but the Dutchman eventually opted to join Bayern Munich instead.
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