Chelsea
have completed the club-record signing of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid on
a five-year contract.
The Spain striker flew into London on Thursday to have a medical and
complete the formalities of a deal which could eventually cost Chelsea £70m.
The Premier League champions announced his arrival on Friday evening, and
Morata will now fly out to join his new team-mates on their pre-season tour
of Asia.
He told the club website: "I am so happy to be here. It's an incredible
emotion to be part of this big club.
"I am looking to work hard, score as many goals as I can and to win as many
trophies as possible."
Technical director Michael Emenalo said: "We are delighted to complete
Alvaro's signing and welcome him to the club. We believe he can make a great
impact for Chelsea and look forward to seeing him in action.
"Alvaro has proven class at the highest level and his quality will be a huge
asset to Antonio and the squad."
Morata was a target for Manchester United earlier in the transfer window
before Jose Mourinho moved for Everton's Romelu Lukaku.
But the 24-year-old told
Sky Sports News on Thursday he is joining
"the best club" in Chelsea, where he will replace Diego Costa as
first-choice striker.
Morata scored three goals at last summer's European Championships and had
the best goals-per-minute record of any Real Madrid player in La Liga last
season after winning two Italian titles in two years on loan at Juventus.
And Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Terry Gibson believes Real will
regret selling.
He said: "I think this may prove to be a mistake on Madrid's part. Morata is
a dynamic striker that works the channels, he's got a great first touch.
"He'll control the ball where it is knocked up to him and he's good at
attacking crosses - those attributes lend to doing well in the Premier
League."
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