Round-up: Top English Premier League transfers on deadline day
Chelsea’s move for Colombian Juan Cuadrado is the highlight in a low-key end of the transfer window
Blues boss Jose Mourinho had been linked with a move for Cuadrado for several weeks and he finally landed his target after making room in his squad by selling Germany winger Andre Schurrle to Bundesliga title challengers Wolfsburg just hours earlier.
The 26-year-old, who agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract with the west London club, told Chelsea’s website: “I am very happy and thankful for this opportunity I’ve been given.
This is a great club and honestly it is like a dream to join the Chelsea family and to know that the manager believes in me
“This is a great club and honestly it is like a dream to join the Chelsea family and to know that the manager believes in me. I’m happy.”
Cuadrado, who had been at Fiorentina since 2012 after joining from Udinese, caught the eye with sparkling performances for Colombia at last year’s World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals only to be beaten by hosts Brazil.
He is reported to have cost Chelsea an initial fee of £23.3 million (HK$271.7 million), which could rise to £26.8 million.
Cuadrado’s move was the most eye-catching deal on a day when most Premier League clubs seemed to be opting out of the usual last-ditch spending spree.