Chelsea announce arrival of Roma defender

 

Chelsea have announced they have signed Roma defender Emerson Palmieri on a four-and-a-half-year deal until June 2022.

 

Antonio Conte’s side agreed a deal with their Italian counterparts last week but waited to find out whether they could include Edin Dzeko in the deal as part of a double swoop before finalising Emerson’s arrival.

 

Talks for Dzeko collapsed at the start of the week and Emerson flew in to England on Monday to undergo his medical and put pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Blues.

 

Chelsea have reportedly agreed to pay Roma an initial £17.5m fee plus a further £5.25m in various add-ons as Conte finally sounds out cover for Marcos Alonso.

 

"I came here because it's a great team with a great history," Emerson told the club's official website. "Today I am realising one of my dreams to pull on the shirt of such a great club.

 

"English football is something I have been watching since I was 15 years old. It is a really beautiful game over here but it is going to be even more beautiful to play it.

 

Chelsea announce arrival of Roma defender

 

The defending Premier League champions were hopeful of signing first choice target Alex Sandro but pulled the plug on a deal after growing increasingly frustrated with Juventus during negotiations.

 

Emerson has only made one substitute appearance in Serie A this season after suffering a serious knee injury at the end of last season.