Chelsea Antonio Conte has sealed 24-year-old Ross Barkley’s deal with the Everton side for £15m.
The Blues during the summer window were heavily linked with Barkley but failed to seal the switch. The England international, 24, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with last season’s Premier League champions.
The Blues were heavily linked with Barkley during the summer window, though a deadline-day deal failed to materialise.
Barkley, who leaves Everton after 13 years at Goodison Park, has not played for seven months because of a hamstring injury and had surgery in August.
The Midfielder has described his £15m move from Everton to Chelsea as “unbelievable” and “a fresh start”.
“To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it’s unbelievable for me,”
Conte said: “He’s very young and has a lot of space for improvement.He’s a good prospect but at the same time, it will be very important to understand, if the player signs, we must have patience to help him recover.”
Barkley turned down a move to Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline day in August after rejecting a new deal at Everton and was due to be out of contact in the summer.
He will wear the number eight shirt at Chelsea previously worn by Frank Lampard and Oscar.
Barkley joined Everton’s academy as an 11-year-old in 2005 and played 150 times in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals.
He has 22 caps for England and played at the 2014 World Cup.
