Chelsea have struck yet another blow in the transfer market, securing the services of Thiago Silva on a free transfer from PSG.
Chelsea’s rampage in the ongoing transfer market continues as they have now confirmed the arrival of Thiago Silva. The defender has signed a one-year contract, with the club having the option to extend that deal by a further 12 months, according to the official statement by the Premier League giants.
Silva becomes the third big defensive acquisition from Frank Lampard’s team this summer, with the Blues having announced the arrivals of Ben Chilwell and Malang Sarr this week. He is also the second player, after Sarr, to join the club on a free transfer, having run out his contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Brazilian was rather unlucky to miss out on winning the UEFA Champions League, getting narrowly defeated by Bayern Munich in the final. He did, however, play a crucial role, alongside the likes of Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos, in making PSG one of the best-performing defensive sides in Europe this past season.
Can’t wait, @TSilva3! ?#OhhThiagoSilva pic.twitter.com/LwcZkzRels
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 28, 2020
Silva will be hoping for similar fortunes with Chelsea, especially with the west London giants ready to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title next season. They have already signed high-end players including Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech while the arrival of Kai Havertz is still a possibility.
While Manchester City are getting desperate to add Lionel Messi to their books, Chelsea, it seems, are playing the right cards by reshaping the core of their team. And in Lampard, they already have a coach who is keen on embedding an identity into the club’s footballing philosophy.
Silva’s vast experience at the highest level of football, in that regard, should be useful in nurturing an otherwise young Chelsea defence. He can also bring that winning mentality, having won the French league title seven times as well as one Copa America and many other trophies.
At Stamford Bridge, the 35-year-old is most likely to partner Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen or Kurt Zouma, depending on whether or not Lampard sticks with the three-man backline.
Unfortunately, Sarr won’t be part of the action as Chelsea have already confirmed he will leave the club on loan this summer. So he is pretty much out of the question, which does bode well for Fikayo Tomori, who has been linked with a move elsewhere.
