Koulibaly signs a four-year contract with the London club
The Senegalese international defender from Napoli, Kalidou Koulibaly (31 years old), has committed to Chelsea for four years, the London club announced on Saturday in a statement.
The captain of the Senegal national team, with whom he won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, is the second signing of the 'Blues' since the club was purchased by American Todd Boehly and a consortium of investors. The first one was, earlier this week, English forward Raheem Sterling, who came from Manchester City.
In London, Koulibaly will reunite with his national team teammate and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. He will strengthen Chelsea's defense after the departure of German Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) and Danish Andreas Christensen (FC Barcelona).
"It is a great worldwide team and my dream has always been to play in the Premier League. Chelsea contacted me in 2016, but it didn't materialize back then. This time, when they approached me, I accepted (the offer) because they really wanted me to come to the Premier League and play with them," explained Koulibaly, quoted in the club's statement.
The center-back spent the last eight seasons at Napoli, a team with which he won the Coppa Italia in 2020.
Koulibaly, of Senegalese and French descent, was born in eastern France and made his professional debut with French club Metz before signing with Belgian club Genk, where he played from 2012 to 2014. AFP