Juan Cuadrado Completes Transfer To Chelsea FC

In a transfer window generally known for underwhelming deals, Chelsea FC may have just struck gold. After weeks of speculation the Blues have finally secured the signing of Juan Cuadrado from Serie A club Fiorentina for an initial fee of £23.3m. On transfer deadline day, the Colombian winger put pen to paper to join the Chelsea ranks as Mohamed Salah heads the other way as part of a loan-swap deal.

Cuadrado wasted no time expressing his excitement in joining the Premier League leaders during his first interview with the club:

"The best part about this dream is that I’m going to be part of such a big club. For me that is a huge motivation to perform well…It is really going to be brilliant to work with one of the best coaches anywhere in the world. I’m very proud to be playing for him and I think he is going to help me grow into a better player."

Cuadrado, who will be wearing the no. 74 shirt already has players and fans alike salivating over the prospect of Cuadrado lining up alongside Eden Hazard, Oscar, Diego Costa, and Cesc Fabregas. Even ex-Arsenal legend — and current Chelsea fan — Thierry Henry has praised the move:

"He can beat anyone at any time and he’s a proper winger also – that’s something you don’t see often now, guys that want to go down the line and beat people and cross. That’s what you want if you’re a striker, so I think he will be a special player."

Oscar was one of the first to congratulate his South American counterpart on joining the club and extending his list of haters:  

Coming off a fantastic 2014 World Cup outing Cuadrado has become a household name after co-leading the competition in number of assists, with four. He and James Rodriguez led Los Cafeteros to the knockout stages before bowing out to host nation in the quarterfinals.

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Yet, the player only recently hit his stride on European soil. Born in Necocli, Colombia, Juan Cuadrado earned his first senior caps at Independiente Medellin in 2008 before Udinese quickly snapped him up the following year. Inconsistencies lead to a loan move to Lecce for the full-back-turned-winger during the 2011 season; that was where Cuadrado’s career took off.

The impressive loan spell caught the attention of fellow Serie A side Fiorentia who secured his transfer in 2012. He shined in his debut season with the Tuscany club, finishing the campaign with five goals and six assists.

Fast forward to 2015 and Juan Cuadrado is taking the next step in his career. With the sale of Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg for around £24m completed just hours before his own, Juan will be taking over the right wing spot in Chelsea’s starting eleven — assuming he will unseat Willian. The Colombian looks to make an immediate impact in the squad, and given that he isn’t cup tied in European competition, will have plenty of opportunities to make the right wing his own.

Cuadrado had scored four goals and provided four assists for the Viola during the first half of this season in Serie A play. Add one goal in the Europa League to that tally and Blues fans are left with a good idea of what to expect at Stamford Bridge in the second half of the season.

I’ll let Juan Cuadrado, Chelsea’s newest addition, summarize his goals for this next step in his career:

"I’m a quick and positive player and I hope to show that on the field of play and help all of my teammates…I hope to perform for [Chelsea fans] in the best possible way and I hope we can achieve a lot of things together."

Do you think Juan Cuadrado will make an immediate impact for Chelsea?

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