Antonio Rudiger, German defender, has sighed a deal with Spanish giants, Real Madrid and will leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
The move comes after the Chelsea defender indicated interest to leave the Premier League side at the end of the season for Madrid on a free transfer.
Spanish football journalist Alvaro Montero told Sky Sports on Tuesday the defender’s move to Real Madrid is a “done deal”.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Sunday the centre-back will leave the club this summer after he failed to agree a new deal.
The 29-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of the season and he now looks set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Montero told Sky Sports News: “I asked someone inside the club [Real Madrid] yesterday and he started laughing and said, ‘Yes, it’s a done deal’.
“Things can change but there is a deal between the player and the club.
“I believe when he scored at the Bernabeu [for Chelsea in the Champions League this month] he was already a Real Madrid player.
“It was his desire and if nothing strange happens he’s going to play for Real Madrid next season.”
Rudiger has been a key part of Chelsea’s success in recent seasons having won five trophies with the club, including last year’s Champions League.
Chelsea team-mate Jorginho believes the German will be a big loss for the team if he was to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
The Italian told Sky Sports News: “He’s been here a long time so if he leaves then we’re going to miss him.
“He’s a big personality and he’s helped us a lot. We’ve had amazing times here; he’s a good friend of mine and of course if he leaves everyone at the club will miss him, not just me.”
Asked what he will miss the most about Rudiger, the 30-year-old laughed: “His craziness. He makes me laugh a lot; all of his jokes and laughs we’ve had together – that’s the nice part.”
Jules Kounde has paved the way for a move to Chelsea this summer by telling Sevilla he remains determined to leave the Spanish club, the PA news agency understands.
France defender Kounde saw a long-mooted transfer to Chelsea fall apart last summer, after Sevilla refused to let the highly-rated centre-back leave for less than his £68.5m (€80m) release clause.
Chelsea thought they had a deal wrapped up, only for Sevilla to dig in at the last with the switch falling through just before the summer’s transfer window closed.
But with Chelsea also set to lose centre-back Andreas Christensen this summer on a free transfer, with Barcelona looking a likely destination for the Dane, the Blues will be in the market for central defenders.
Chelsea cannot make any new signings or complete fresh contract terms with existing players under the club’s UK Government sanctions.
The club’s sale should be completes next month however, allowing Chelsea bosses to revert to business as usual, according to Sky Sports.
Chelsea have lost clear ground in the transfer market due to the club’s licensing constraints as a result of the sanctions on owner Roman Abramovich.
But Stamford Bridge chiefs still hope to be able to compete in the summer’s transfer window, leaving Kounde among the club’s top targets.
Chelsea have never let their interest in the nine-cap France defender wane and will be expected to step up efforts to recruit the 23-year-old once the club’s sale is complete.