Tosin Adarabioyo joins Chelsea from Fulham

Chelsea have completed the signing of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a four-year contract.

Chelsea announced the signing of Adarabioyo in a statement on Friday.

The 26-year-old defender completed a medical earlier this week and will arrive at Stamford Bridge on a free transfer when his contract with Fulham officially expires at the end of June.

Adarabioyo rejected several new contract offers at Craven Cottage before agreeing to become the first signing under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Newcastle had entered talks and Manchester United were also understood to be admirers, but Chelsea were said to have offered better personal conditions to win the race for his signature.

Speaking on the move, the defender said: “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.

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“Growing up, Chelsea has always been a club that have performed well and one that have had great players and teams to watch. Chelsea have won big trophies and long may it continue.

“I’m here to win. I want to win. It’s as simple as that really. I just want to keep working and pushing the team and the club in the direction we want to go in. I’m excited to get going.”

Born in London but raised in Manchester, Adarabioyo began his career with Manchester City at the age of five. He moved through the club’s youth ranks and regularly captained the Under-18s at 16 years old.

His professional debut arrived in February 2016 at Stamford Bridge. Tosin started for a youthful City side in the FA Cup and went on to make seven more first-team appearances across the following two campaigns.

Adarabioyo made 20 appearances for Fulham in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring two goals and helping his former side to a 13th-place finish.

The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League officially opens on Friday, June 14 – the same day that Euro 2024 starts.

The window will close on August 30 at 11 p.m. UK time in England and at midnight in Scotland.

The Star