Chelsea sign Miazga on four-year deal

Chelsea have completed the signing of defender Matt Miazga from New York Red Bulls, according to the club’s official website.

The Premier League club, who took Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato on loan from Sao Paulo-based Corinthians on Friday (local time), said Miazga had signed a four-and-a-half year contract.

A young prodigy, he signed his professional contract at 17 and made his debut as an 18-year-old for the NY side.

However, Miazga and his representatives were focused on a European move – a message the Red Bulls understood since negotiations began in the first quarter of past year.

“It’s a bittersweet day for the New York Red Bulls”, the club’s Sporting Director Ali Curtis said.

Curtis added: “We will cheer for Matt from Red Bull Arena”.

“The first was that Matt indicated he wanted to play in Europe, now”. Curtis said the team is still exploring the existing MLS market, as well as the global one-but that they could wind up finding another Miazga in the existing roster ranks.

“Third point is if we didn’t transfer Matt this window or the summer, then while we would have ended up with Matt playing for 12 months, we wouldn’t receive anything in compensation to reinvest into the youth system”. They did, however, work through their disappointment in losing Miazga, wishing him the best on a hard decision.

“My experiences there have helped me fulfil my lifelong goal along with the support of my family, friends, and God. I want to say thank you to the entire New York Red Bulls organization including all of my coaches, teammates and staff that were there with me during my time with the club”.

“This is a testament to our academy system to develop players capable of competing with the best players in the world and we are proud of what Matt has accomplished”.