Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored 12 goals in the Championship last season for Leicester under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca; Dewsbury-Hall moves to Stamford Bridge on a £30m deal; the 25-year-old could return to the King Power Stadium in Chelsea colours in late November
Tuesday 2 July 2024 21:24, UK
Chelsea have completed the £30m signing of Leicester midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The 25-year-old joins new Blues manager Enzo Maresca in swapping the King Power Stadium for Stamford Bridge this summer.
Dewsbury-Hall - who has signed a five-year deal with the option of a further year - scored 12 Championship goals and registered 14 assists under Maresca last season.
"It is amazing to be sitting here as a Chelsea player," Dewsbury-Hall told the Chelsea website.
"This is a club people grow up watching and hoping to one day play for, so it is a privilege to be here. I'm really excited to get going and can't wait to show everybody what I can do."
The midfielder is Chelsea's fourth summer signing after deals were completed for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, Aston Villa midfielder Omari Kellyman and Barcelona forward Marc Guiu.
The Dewsbury-Hall deal helps Leicester hugely towards meeting Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) but it remains to be seen whether they will be fully compliant.
Dewsbury-Hall penned an emotional farewell to Leicester on his Instagram account having first joined the club when he was eight years old.
The 25-year-old went on to make 129 appearances for the club and wrote: "Well what can I say? What a journey it's been. Seventeen years of my life devoted to this club and it's been a pleasure. I've loved every minute of my time at this football club and created some memories & friendships I'll never forget.
"When we were relegated in the 2022/23 season, I felt personally responsible for my part played in that. I made it my goal to ensure we got back to the Premier League within the first season, as I know how devastating a position that can be for a club if it doesn't happen.
"I'm very proud of what we achieved together last season - creating memories of a lifetime for us all. But bigger than that, hopefully going some way to righting the wrongs of that relegation season.
"The overwhelming amount of messages I've received in the past few days has honestly touched me and I thank each and every person for taking the time to do so, it means so much to me and my family. I want to thank all of the team-mates I've played with, the coaches that l've worked with and fans that l've grown with.
"I'm glad I'm leaving the club with them in the Premier League, where they belong, and wish Leicester City all the best in the upcoming season and further on. I'm one of your own, Leicester. But it's time for me to go now…"
Enzo Maresca will host former club Manchester City in his first Premier League game as Chelsea head coach.
Maresca - who had two spells as a coach at City under Pep Guardiola - replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea this summer and will welcome his former club to Stamford Bridge on Sunday August 18, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 4.30pm.
The 44-year-old Italian was plucked from Leicester after guiding them back to the Premier League and will return to the King Power Stadium when Chelsea visit on Saturday November 23.
The Blues face a tricky period in October and November, playing Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Arsenal in successive fixtures, while their first meeting with Tottenham is on Saturday December 7, and they host Fulham on Boxing Day.
Chelsea also look set for a daunting May, closing their top-flight campaign with games against Liverpool, Newcastle and Man Utd, before travelling to Nottingham Forest on the final day on Sunday May 25.
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership is officially open.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time in England and at 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League and Scottish Premiership brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
