Official: Chelsea signs Nemanja Matic from Benfica in £20.8m deal

Nemanja Matic signs a new deal with Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club have today completed the signing of Nemanja Matic from Benfica.

On signing his five-and-a-half-year contract, the 25-year-old said: “I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club. I feel very good because of that and just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy.”

Jose Mourinho added: “I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea. He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions.

The Serbian midfielder, who will wear the number 21 shirt, returns for a second spell at Stamford Bridge, having previously represented the Blues after joining from MSK Kosice in 2009. He made three substitute appearances in the 2009/10 season and departed in January 2011 as part of the deal which brought David Luiz, one of the most coveted players in Europe, from Benfica to London.