- Defender Adarabioyo, 26, came through Manchester City’s academy
- Man United and Newcastle were also interested in the 6ft 4in centre-back
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Chelsea have completed their first signing of the Enzo Maresca era by freeing Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham.
The 6ft 1in centre-back has signed a four-year deal with the Blues, who see his ability on the ball and skill at set pieces as a key asset for next season.
The 26-year-old came through Manchester City’s academy and will now work with Pep Guardiola’s former assistant Maresca as he looks to implement a possession-based playing style.
‘Chelsea is a huge club and for me this moment has come full circle. “I was born three miles away from Stamford Bridge and made my professional debut there,” Adarabioyo said.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to helping the club move in the direction we want to go.”
Tosin Adarabioyo has signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge after leaving Fulham
The highly rated centre-back will be the first signing under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca
Adarabioyo said he was excited to sign for Chelsea and joining the club brought things full circle
Adarabioyo completed his medical with Chelsea earlier this week as they beat Newcastle and Manchester United to his signing.
A hole was left in Chelsea’s squad when Thiago Silva left at the end of last season. It remains to be seen what this signing will mean for Trevoh Chalobah, the homegrown talent who has been linked with a move this summer.
Chelsea are keen to improve their skills in defending and attacking from set pieces, having ranked 10th in the Premier League last season for both goals scored and goals conceded from such situations.
They have also hired Brentford’s Bernardo Cueva as a specialist coach to oversee their new set-piece department.