Cesc Fabregas Signs for Chelsea from FC Barcelona on a 5-year deal Thursday June 12,2014

 

Cesc Fabregas signs for Chelsea in £30m transfer and will wear No 4 shirt for Chelsea

In announcing his return to the Premier League, Fabregas was quick to underline the fact his former club rejected the chance to bring him back to the Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas came through the ranks at Arsenal, and went on to captain the side before returning to boyhood club Barcelona in 2011.

Arsenal secured a first-option buy-back clause as part of the £35million deal which saw Fabregas return to Catalonia.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had considered taking up the option once it became clear Barca were looking to sell the midfielder.

But with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already at the club, Wenger decided his squad did not need another creative midfielder

Wenger and Fabregas continue to have a close relationship, while it is understood returning to north London was Fabregas' preferred destination.

Despite the fact Fabregas' move to Chelsea has been mooted for several days, there remained an element of surprise that Wenger snubbed the opportunity to re-sign Fabregas from within the club yesterday.

And the ex-Arsenal captain was at pains to point out that it was Arsenal's decision to end any potential reunion, and not vice versa.

'Firstly I would like to thank everyone at FC Barcelona where I enjoyed three wonderful years. It was my childhood club and I will always be proud and honoured that I had a chance to play for such a great team.

Cesc Fabregas - Factfile

1987: May 4 - Born in Arenys de Mar, Catalonia.
1997: Joins Barcelona youth set-up.
2003: August - Top goalscorer and wins adidas Golden Shoe for being best player at the FIFA Under-17 World Championship.
September - Signs for Arsenal.
October 28 - Becomes the youngest player in Arsenal's history when he plays against Rotherham in League Cup.
2005: May - Fabregas helped Arsenal to win the FA Cup final against Manchester United in 2005

2006: March 1 - Wins first cap for Spain, featuring against the Ivory Coast.
May 17 - Plays as Arsenal are defeated by Barcelona in the Champions League final.
June 14 - Became youngest player in Spanish history to participate in a World Cup when he features against Ukraine.
October 19 - Agrees new eight-year deal with Arsenal.
2008: May - Voted the PFA's Young Player of the Year.

June 29 - Starts as Spain win Euro 2008 final 1-0 against Germany.
October 7 - Reveals it would be a 'dream to return to Barcelona some day'.
November 24 - Named Arsenal skipper after William Gallas is stripped of captaincy
2009: March 17 - Denies an allegation of spitting at Hull assistant manager Brian Horton after Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win, although he is later charged and then cleared.
2010: April 26 - Included in the PFA Team of of the Year.
June 2 - Arsenal release a statement saying they have rejected the offer from Barcelona and have no intention of selling.
June/July - Makes four substitute appearances in seven games in Spain's triumphant World Cup campaign, setting up winning goal for Andres Iniesta in the final.

2011: March 8 - Apologises to Gunners fans after making mistake in the build-up to Barca's first goal in a 3-1 Champions League win over Arsenal at the Nou Camp.
August 15 - Passes medical and signs five-year contract to complete transfer to Barcelona, sealing a return to the Nou Camp.
August 26 - Scores his first goal for the club in the 2-0 UEFA Super Cup victory over Porto.
December 18 - Again gets on the scoresheet in a final as Barcelona beat Santos 4-0 to win the FIFA Club World Cup.
2012: May 25 - Comes off the bench as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to win the Copa del Rey and finishes his first season at Barcelona with four pieces of silverware.
June/July - Plays a more advanced role for Spain as they retained the European Championships. Scores in group stages matches against Italy and Ireland before netting the winning penalty in the semi-final shootout success over Portugal.
2013: April 6 - Scores the first hat-trick of his career in a 5-0 win over Real Mallorca.
May 11 - Wins the Premiera Division title, the first league winners' medal of his career.
July - Is the subject of interest from Manchester United, with manager David Moyes confirming the Premier League club have lodged a bid.
August 18 - Provides five assists as Barcelona hammer Levante 7-0
2014: April 16 - Starts Copa del Rey final defeat against Real Madrid.
May 17 - Included in starting line-up as Barcelona can only draw final league game of the season at home to Atletico Madrid, who win the title as a result.
June 12 - Signs for Chelsea after being linked with a host of Premier League clubs throughout the summer