THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME three hours late but fans of Chelsea Football Club will care not a jot.
Lille’s Belgian international playmaker Eden Hazard announced on Monday evening that he had signed for Champions League winners Chelsea.
The decision was made in preference to Premier League champions Manchester City and runners-up Manchester United.
The 21-year-old, who was voted Ligue 1 Players’ Player of the Year for the second successive year, had previously said he would definitely sign for one of the Manchester clubs without specifying which one. He tweeted:
I’m signing for the Champion’s League winner.
Hazard, capped 27 times and scorer of two goals, was inspirational when Lille won the domestic double in 2011.
Though they failed to defend their titles this season he nonetheless enjoyed a successful season, scoring 17 goals and providing 15 assists.