Chelsea sign Everton midfielder Barkley

English football champions Chelsea have signed midfielder Ross Barkley from Everton for a reported fee of around $20 million.

"The 24-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract and will wear the number 8 shirt," Chelsea said in a statement on Friday.

Upon signing for Chelsea, Barkley told Chelsea's website: 'I'm overwhelmed, I'm looking forward to it and I'm really excited to get started.

"To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it's unbelievable for me. I'm looking forward to continuing where I left off at the end of last season and hoping to improve and add more goals to my game."

A hamstring injury at the beginning of the current campaign has kept him out since August, which means he is eligible to play for Chelsea in all four competitions.

"I'm looking forward to getting started, putting the injury behind me and trying to be successful at Chelsea. I'm back in training, I'm doing everything as normal and I'm very close to being ready to play games. I've been training for a few weeks now and I'm feeling great," he said.

Club director Marina Granovskaia said: "Ross is a player we have long admired and are certain he will prove to be an important player for Chelsea.

"He possesses outstanding technical and physical attributes, matched with good experience of the Premier League and a strong desire to succeed at the highest level. We welcome him to the club and look forward to seeing him in action."

Barkley arrives with a wealth of experience for a player so young, having already made 150 Premier League appearances for Everton, as well as being named in England squads for both the World Cup and European Championships.

His versatility ensures he can play just behind the striker, in a deeper midfield role or in an advanced wide position, with his ability to get on the ball and create chances one of the player's biggest strengths.

--IANS

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