Chelsea confirm first summer signing as Man Utd and Newcastle miss out on bargain deal

Chelsea have confirmed their first signing of the summer, bringing in Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer. The 26-year-old received plenty of transfer interest with both Newcastle and Manchester United also keen to secure the bargain deal, but the former Manchester City academy star has opted for a four-year deal with the Blues.

It is understood that the Craven Cottage star will head across to Stamford Bridge on the expiration of his contract at the end of the month and is making the move in order to play in Europe, with Chelsea having qualified for the 2024/25 Europa Conference League following a five-match winning streak at the end of the Premier League campaign.

The English defender reportedly rejected an offer to become one of the highest-paid players at Fulham in April following noise around potential transfers and has now confirmed his excitement at moving to a club so close to where he was born.

"Chelsea is a huge club and this is a full-circle moment for me. I was born three miles away from Stamford Bridge and made my professional debut there," Adarabioyo said. “I'm very excited and looking forward to helping push the club in the direction we want to go."

Manchester United were reported to be attempting to turn the 26-year-old’s head with a late approach but the defender had already agreed the move to Stamford Bridge, the Blues having already hijacked Newcastle’s month-long talks with Adarabioyo. Atletico Madrid were also credited with an interest in the English star but they were evidently unable to compete with the Premier League options.

With Chelsea legend Thiago Silva’s departure from the club imminent, Adarabioyo has been promised an important role under the Blues’ new boss Enzo Maresco, with whom the defender worked briefly at City. Chelsea are hopeful that the 6ft 5in defender will help in both attacking and defensive set-pieces and will work with coach Bernardo Cueva who has joined from Brentford in a bid to build a new set-piece department.

It is also believed that Adarabioyo’s arrival is set to accelerate the departure of Blues academy defender Trevoh Chalobah who is being made available for sale this summer amid reported interest from Manchester United.

Adarabioyo ended his 18-year association with Manchester City in 2020, signing for Fulham. He has since gone on to make nearly 120 league appearances for the Cottagers, scoring five times as the club went through relegation and immediate promotion back to the EFL top-tier competition.