Brighton’s Spanish defender Marc Cucurella has been acquired by Chelsea on a six-year deal, the London club confirmed on Friday.

There was no mention of a fee, but according to British media, the transaction was for £60 million (or $73 million or 71 million euros).

Now, the 24-year-old should be accessible for Chelsea’s opening Premier League match on the road against Everton on Saturday.

Cucurella told Chelsea’s website, “I’m incredibly thrilled; it’s a tremendous opportunity for me to join one of the best teams in the world and I’m going to work hard to be happy here and help the squad.

Following the arrivals of Carney Chukwuemeka, Raheem Sterling, and Kalidou Koulibaly at Stamford Bridge, the Spain wingback has now been added to Chelsea’s preseason roster.

Cucurella’s transfer might pave the way for promising Chelsea center-back Levi Colwill to move to Brighton on loan in the opposite direction.

It’s Real. 😎#CucurellaIsChelsea pic.twitter.com/MXnsWMRLQ4

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 5, 2022

Both Manchester City and Chelsea have been interested in Cucurella, although the Premier League champions are understood to have baulked at Brighton’s asking price.

But Chelsea, under new owner Todd Boehly’s consortium, remained interested.

Blues manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking at a news conference shortly before the transfer was confirmed, said: “Well it’s not done yet, but I don’t want to tell you that I don’t know anything about it of course.

Marc is our player; he’s young, hungry, mobile, and extremely brilliant. “The paperwork is being processed; perhaps, we can finish it before noon.

If it is approved, Colwill may have additional opportunities to play in games elsewhere.

AFP