Cesc Fabregas bids adieu to Chelsea, will be joining Monaco
In one of the most important transfers this winter, Catalan midfielder Cesc Fabregas has shifted to Monaco, to play under his former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry, after having spent four-and-a-half seasons at Chelsea. The midfield maestro has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Monaco, who currently are in the 19th spot in Ligue 1. Chelsea have wished him well for his future endeavors.
Fabregas speaks about his time at Chelsea with this tweet
A glimpse at Fabregas' time with the English giants
Fabregas became an integral part of the Chelsea midfield during his time there, making 198 appearances and scoring 22 goals. In his first season with the club, Fabregas created a unique record, becoming the only player in Premier League history to assist in six consecutive matches. His immense ball control, vision, and technique made him one of the most formidable playmakers in EPL history.
Fabregas thrived under Mourinho and won the 2014-15 Premier League
When Jose Mourinho rejoined Chelsea for his second stint with the club, Fabregas was deployed in a deeper role where he thrived as well, playing a creative role and dictating his team's tempo on the field. He became one of the best assist providers under Mourinho, and Chelsea won the 2014-15 Premier League. He also had a major role in Chelsea's 2016-17 title win.
Hugely influential in Chelsea's 2016-17 EPL victory
Fabregas was one of the key factors for Chelsea winning the 2016-17 EPL under the management of Antonio Conte. Though he was used as a substitute early in the season, Fabregas continued to show why he was irreplaceable, and slowly made it into the starting line-up by December. His performances against Manchester City, Sunderland, and former club Arsenal were important for their title win.
Eden Hazard will miss his friend and colleague
Chelsea have wished him well in their club statement
The five-time Premier League winners wished Fabregas well in the official statement that the club released on their website, recalling his achievements with them. Fabregas is the second-highest assist provider in EPL history, and also the fastest to reach 100 assists, doing so in 293 matches. The club praised his technical ability and vision, and wished him well for his career at Monaco.
Here's Chelsea's official club statement regarding Fabregas' transfer
Fabregas will be joining former teammate Thierry Henry at Monaco
Fabregas had joined Arsenal despite being a La Masia product and was Arsenal's youngest-ever first team player, debuting at 16 years and 177 days. Fabregas, along with Monaco manager Henry, was part of the Arsenal team whose 49-game winning streak was halted by Manchester United at Old Trafford. When the two unite at Monaco, they might pull the team up from the relegation zone.
Monaco's vice-president lauds Fabregas' arrival
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said on the club's website, "We are very pleased to welcome to AS Monaco Cesc Fabregas, a world-class player and a great professional." He added, "This is obviously a very good technical reinforcement for the team but we are convinced that his experience at the highest level will bring a lot to our players on and off the field."
