His arrival brings Chelsea’s total outlay to £296.8m, though that figure has been offset by a remarkable £314.4m recouped from 26 player departures.
Garnacho on joining Chelsea: “We’re the best team in the world”
Garnacho has signed a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge and expressed his delight at moving to the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Garnacho told the club’s website.
“I watched the Club World Cup and to join the world champions is special – we’re the best team in the world! It’s amazing to be here and I’m very happy.”
A compromise deal between rivals
The transfer fee is seen as a pragmatic compromise, United initially valued Garnacho at £50m, while Chelsea began negotiations at £25m. A £40m agreement was reached, with United also securing a 10 per cent sell-on clause.
The deal represents United’s biggest player sale in five years and their largest-ever fee for an academy graduate, ranking as the fourth-highest outgoing transfer in the club’s history, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Angel Di Maria.
United sources consider the outcome a strong piece of business for a player who was pushing to leave and had been left out of Ruben Amorim’s first-team training group during pre-season.
United and Amorim on Garnacho’s departure
Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol described the sale as “significant,” noting:
“This is the largest ever sale for a Manchester United academy product… a very good deal for them, for a player who didn’t really have a future at the club.”
United boss Amorim admitted earlier this summer that while Garnacho’s talent was clear, the winger wanted a change.
“You can see he’s really talented, but sometimes things don’t work out. Garnacho wanted something different, and I can understand that. It’s natural in football.”
Garnacho chooses Chelsea over rivals
Despite other offers, Garnacho’s preference was always a move to Chelsea, his transfer underlines both the Blues’ aggressive recruitment strategy and United’s willingness to cash in on an unsettled player.
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