Jose Mourinho reveals why Chelsea snapped up Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma (L)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that the club needed to sign Kurt Zouma now or risk missing out on the defender altogether.

The Blues confirmed the £12.5 million signing this morning after weeks of rumours and speculation. Zouma will join up with the club in the summer for pre-season after remaining at St Etienne on-loan for the remainder of the current season.

The Frenchman has been touted as the future captain of the national side by legend Didier Drogba and could be the long-term replacement for John Terry, whose contract expires in the summer.

Mourinho wasn’t prepared to lose out on Zouma, and here’s why.

“If we don’t do it now, probably we can’t do it in the summer because other clubs were also very strong on him,” said the Chelsea manager.

“So we did it, now he stay at St Etienne, pre-season he will join us. We will see if it is to stay or if it is to go on loan.

“He’s another young player in the profile of some Chelsea signed in the last couple of years. He is a young player for a position where we also need for the future.”

Zouma made his Ligue 1 debut in 2011 and has played 51 games in the division since.

Zouma has won 70% of his tackles since the start of last season – 19/27.