Andreas Christensen departs Chelsea ahead of rumoured Barcelona move

Chelsea on Friday confirmed the departure of Danish centre back Andreas Christensen on a free transfer, hours after the Premier League transfer window officially opened.

Christensen, who had been tipped for a move away from the Premier League this summer, will join Barcelona on a free transfer in the coming days, the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano confirmed. Earlier, reports had suggested that the Dane had agreed a three-year deal with the Blaugrana.

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Christensen had joined Chelsea in 2012, starting from the club’s academy, where he made an almost instantaneous mark: the Dane helped Chelsea reach two finals in his first season, and went on to help his side win two trophies, the FA Youth Cup and the Under-21 Premier League. The 26-year-old was also instrumental in helping Chelsea lift their first UEFA Youth League trophy.

The Dane made his senior debut in 2014/15, playing as the right-back in a fourth-round League Cup victory at Shrewsbury.

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Since then, Christensen has featured in an impressive 161 games for Chelsea, and was a part of the squad that won the FA Cup, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and, most memorably, the Champions League.

“Chelsea Football Club thanks Andreas for his contribution to our success in the last decade and wishes him well in his future career,” the London club wrote in a statement, announcing the centre-back’s departure.

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With his exit now confirmed, Christensen becomes the second Chelsea centre-back to leave on a free transfer this summer, with German defender Antonio Rudiger already having sealed a move to Real Madrid.

The Blues on Friday also announced the departures of Danny Drinkwater, Charly Musonda, and Jake Clarke-Salter, with the club having grand plans for a revamp this summer.