Chelsea sign five-year deal with Cesc Fabregas for £30 million from Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas completed his shocking £30million switch to Chelsea yesterday and confirmed Arsenal snubbed the chance to re-sign him. But he told disappointed Arsenal fans on Twitter "Once a gunner, always a gunner" after admitting the club turned down the option to buy him back.

The 27-year-old has returned to the Premier League and will wear the No.4 shirt. The player's former club Arsenal has a buy-back option, inserted when the Spaniard left the Emirates in 2011.

Chelsea Release Lampard, Cole, Eto’o

Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Samuel Eto'o look set to leave Chelsea this summer following the expiry of their contracts. The club have yet to comment, but the trio are included on the list of released players submitted to the Premier League.Although they could yet be retained, the list indicates that offers to extend their deals have not been agreed.

Cole, 33, had recently said on Twitter that he expected to leave Stamford Bridge following a season in which he lost his place in the team to Cesar Azpilicueta.
Eto'o, too, had appeared certain to move on after just one year in west London, with the Cameroon international criticising coach Jose Mourinho following remarks he made earlier in the campaign about his age.

However, Lampard, 35, was thought likely to sign an extension along with club captain John Terry, who finally committed to a new deal earlier this month.

Also departing the club are back-up goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer, who deputised for Petr Cech at the end of the season, and Hilario, who had been with the Blues since 2006.
Milan Lalkovic and Sam Hutchinson are among the others to exit. Hutchinson had come through the youth ranks at the club before being forced into retirement in 2010 only to re-sign in 2011 after an improvement in his knee injury.

Meanwhile, striker Demba Ba has revealed that Mourinho convinced him to stay at Chelsea.

Chelsea U-21 team defeats Man U to win Junior Premier league.

Chelsea's Under-21s came from behind to secure victory at Old Trafford and claim the league crown. Tom Lawrence put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes with an expert finish beyond Jamal Blackman, before Charly Musonda levelled the scores 10 minutes later with a low drive from the edge of the box.

The Blues had the better opportunities throughout the second period as Lewis Baker fired over and Ruben Loftus-Cheek brought a good low save from Ben Amos in the Man United goal, before Baker curled a brilliant effort into the far corner in the 79th minute to secure the win.

Chelsea returns to top of English Premier League with 3-0 win against Stoke

After the days of hang-dog soul-searching from Chelsea here was a performance that ranks among their best this campaign as they disdainfully dismissed Stoke. It was no contest. A mis-match.

With it Chelsea returned to the top of the league but such has been the resignation around the place recently that this important detail almost felt like a footnote. It could be significant still – who knows? – even if there was no sense of celebration.

Chelsea's decision not to buy a striker in the last transfer window has complicated their quest for trophies but here one of the players who they did buy in January, 21-year-old winger Mohamed Salah, marked his first Premier League start with a performance that helped to send José Mourinho's team back to the top of the table.

The Egyptian scored in the first half before being fouled in the second to give Frank Lampard the chance to convert a penalty. Lampard missed the spot-kick but netted the rebound. Willian then added a third goal with a sumptuous shot from the edge of the area. Chelsea now have a one-point lead in the Premier League, having played a match more than second-placed Liverpool.

Chelsea loses Club World Cup to Corinthians

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes his side's poor finishing cost them the Club World Cup as they were beaten 1-0 by Brazilian side Corinthians in Japan.
Fernando Torres missed three chances, including one from close range in the last five minutes, while Gary Cahill was also denied when well placed.
"They had one clear chance and they scored and we didn't take our chances. That was the difference," said Benitez.
"We had four very good opportunities. Their goalkeeper was man of the match."

Benitez, who became the first boss to lead a side in three Club World Cup finals after winning with Inter Milan in 2010 and losing as Liverpool manager in the 2005 final, added: "We knew it would be a tough game against a good team.
"They were very physical from the first minute, in every challenge, every ball.
"Every second they were around the referee, doing well, and wasting time at the end."
Frank Lampard, the Chelsea captain for the game as he returned to the starting line-up for the first time in almost two months after a calf injury, believes his side must quickly focus on domestic football.

BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea Signs Oscar

Brazilian midfielder Oscar follows Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard by making a big-money move to Chelsea. Are Roberto di Matteo's side now the favourites for the Premier League or is it still likely to be a battle between Manchester City and Manchester United? Have your say on Chelsea's chances and their new addition.


"Chelsea have just signed Oscar. They're spending big+building for the future. When is Fergie going to get out his cheque book?"