Chelsea sign Serb midfielder Matic

Chelsea signed Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic from Slovakian team MFK Kosice in a deal worth 1.5 million pounds (2.4 million dollars) on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge on a four-year contract and told the club’s website: “I play together with (Chelsea defender) Branislav Ivanovic in the national team and have spoken to him about Chelsea. The first time I met him to play in the national team I asked a couple of questions.

“I am a solid midfield player, I have a lot to offer and for sure to progress and I will show everyone why I am at Chelsea.

“I know I am not well known but I have physical power and I am a quite technical, left-footed player.

“Since the age of 18 I have been at Kosice and before that I had played in the youth team of Red Star Belgrade.”

Matic has prior experience of life in England, having taken in a trial at Middlesbrough in January, but is hoping his second spell will be more pleasant that the first.

“I was there in the winter, when I came it was winter in the north of England so it was not very nice, but the squad was okay and I liked it,” he said.