Chelsea have signed defender Emerson Palmieri from Serie A side Roma for a reported £17.6m.
The Brazil-born 23-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League club.
After playing 36 times for Roma last year he missed the first three months of this season with a knee injury which has limited him to two appearances.
“Today I am realising one of my dreams to pull on the shirt of such a great club,” he said.
“English football is something I have been watching since I was 15 years old. It is a really beautiful game over here.”
Described as a versatile left-sided player, Palmieri joined Roma from Brazil side Santos in December 2016.
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Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: “We are delighted to welcome Emerson to the club.”
“He is a young and talented player who strengthens the squad and will provide excellent competition for places as we pursue success in three different competitions.”
Emerson, full name Emerson Palmieri dos Santos, arrives following a fruitful and productive two-and-a-half seasons with Roma, where he established himself as an important member of the side and gained invaluable experience of playing in Europe.
A versatile left-sided player who can operate as a full-back, wing-back or in a more advanced role, Emerson is skilful, possesses a good range of passing and reads the game well for a player so young.
Having not featured for Roma in Europe this season he is eligible to play in all competitions for Chelsea.
#WelcomeEmerson 👊 pic.twitter.com/A2UQoahjie
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 30, 2018
