Chelsea pay 40 million euro for Belgian international

The Belgian international and Marseilles striker Michy Batshuayi has signed a £33million (40 million euro) deal with the English club Chelsea. Three other London Premier League clubs, West Ham, Tottenham and Crystal Palace were interested in the Brussels-born striker that broke through with Standard de Liège before being transferred to the Ligue 1 club Marseilles.

The 22-year-old had his medical with Chelsea staff in Bordeaux ahead of agreeing personal terms on a five-year contract.

Marseille had agreed the fee with Chelsea on Tuesday evening after receiving counter offers from West Ham, Crystal Palace and Tottenham.

The cash-strapped French side needed to reach a conclusion swiftly as they were under threat of sanctions from the financial regulator of football clubs in France unless they paid around 26 million euro by Tuesday.

Batshuayi scored 21 goals last season and was on target in Belgium's 4-0 win over Hungary on Sunday, when he came off the bench to replace Everton's Romelu Lukaku.
 

Top stories