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Chelsea land Fiorentina defender Alonso

Chelsea completed their surprise swoop for Fiorentina's former Bolton left-back Marcos Alonso for a reported £23 million ($30 million, 27 million euros) on Wednesday.
PHOTO: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images/AFP

PHOTO: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images/AFP

Chelsea completed their surprise swoop for Fiorentina’s former Bolton left-back Marcos Alonso for a reported £23 million ($30 million, 27 million euros) on Wednesday.

Alonso agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club as Chelsea manager Antonio Conte turned to the Spaniard after missing out on several other defensive targets.

The 25-year-old is Conte’s fourth signing since taking charge at Stamford Bridge, following the arrivals of France midfielder N’Golo Kante, Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi and Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo.

“I’m very happy. It’s a step up in my career and I think this is the perfect place for me to continue developing,” Alonso told Chelsea’s website.

“It’s time for me to win some titles. It was an easy decision for me to make when I heard the club were interested in signing me.

“My family and close friends know Chelsea is the club I have dreamt about playing for so I’m really excited about the challenge and I’m looking forward to working with my new team-mates.”

Alonso is no stranger to the Premier League having played for Bolton for three seasons.

The Real Madrid youth academy graduate was in the same Wanderers defence as Gary Cahill, who is now one of his Chelsea team-mates, and he also had a loan spell at Sunderland.

Alonso’s arrival gives Conte options at the back, with the possibility of Cesar Azpilicueta switching to right-back and Branislav Ivanovic playing in the centre of defence.

With the transfer window shutting later on Wednesday, Chelsea are also reportedly set to re-sign Brazil defender David Luiz, who they sold to Paris St Germain for £50 million in 2014.

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