OFFICIAL: Tosin Adarabioyo becomes Enzo Maresca's first Chelsea signing

Robin Bairner

• 7 Jun 2024 10:14 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea have announced they have completed the signing of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer, making him the first arrival of Enzo Maresca's era as manager.

The Blues have beaten off competition from Newcastle and Manchester United to land the 26-year-old centre-back, who arrives under the freedom of contract rules.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Adarabioyo turned down a more lucrative offer from the Magpies to join his former Manchester City mentor Maresca at Stamford Bridge. Man Utd, meanwhile, made a late play for the defender but arrived too late to complete a successful hijack attempt.

READ MORE: The Premier League's most underrated player! Why Chelsea are signing Tosin Adarabioyo

STATS

Tosin Adarabioyo

D, M (C)

Fulham

Tosin Adarabioyo

D, M (C)

Fulham

All Tournaments

2023/24

• 25

  Games

• 2

  Goals

• 0

  Assists

View all stats

Adarabioyo has signed a four-year contract with Chelsea after Maresca implored the club to increase their offer.

Tosin told the Blues’ official website: “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.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to helping push the club in the direction we want to go.”

Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart added: “We are delighted to bring Tosin to Chelsea. Throughout his career, he has showcased his maturity and defensive qualities and has gained a wealth of experience in the Premier League in recent seasons.

“He is ready to make the step up to Chelsea and work alongside the talented players in our squad. We look forward to Tosin joining up with us for pre-season.”

Champions League experience

Tosin has 78 Premier League matches under his belt while he also has some Champions League experience, having played three times in the competition at Manchester City.

Although Chelsea are set to have to sell significantly in order to make big-money signings, there is nothing stopping them from adding Adarabioyo to their ranks given his status as a free agent plus what are expected to be relatively small wage demands.