Chelsea seal Cuadrado swoop
London (AFP) - English Premier League leaders Chelsea sealed the signing of Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado from Serie A side Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee on Monday.
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 Schuerrle to Bundesliga title challengers Wolfsburg earlier on transfer deadline day.
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. 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 finals 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 ($34.9 million, 30.8 million euros), which could rise to £26.8 million.
Cuadrado arrives at Stamford Bridge after five-and-a-half years in Italy, having first joined Udinese from Independiente Medellin.
Capped 37 times by his country, he scored 20 goals in 85 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina.
