It has been officially announced that Chelsea have completed their fourth signing of the summer in Spanish full-back Marcos Alonso. The 25-year-old arrives to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina on a five-year-deal, for a fee around £23m.
Marcos Alonso is a product of the famous La Fabrica academy of Real Madrid, where he featured 39 times domestically, scoring 3 goals in that time for Real Madrid B and was rewarded for his performances with the reserve side by appearing in Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Racing Stantander as a 90th minute substitute for Gonzalo Higuain.
Four months after his debut for Real Madrid, Alonso made a switch to the once branded Reebok Arena (Macron Stadium) to prove himself in the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers, where he spent three years, making 46 appearances in that period. In the summer of 2013, the 25-year-old packed his bags and headed to Florence despite being offered a new deal by Dougie Freedman.
Marcos Alonso with the Chelsea shirt. #CFC #Chelsea pic.twitter.com/AVeXAA1nhH
— François Piraux (@F8Piraux) August 31, 2016
He told Chelsea’s official website that he’s delighted to have joined the club, and is ready to enter the new stage win titles with The Blues.
I’m very happy. It’s a step up in my career and I think this is the perfect place for me to continue developing. It’s time for me to win some titles.
It was an easy decision for me to make when I heard the club were interested in signing me. My family and close friends know Chelsea is the club I have dreamed about playing for so I’m really excited about the challenge and I’m looking forward to working with my new team-mates.
Marcos Alonso signed a three year deal with Fiorentina in May 2013 but was loaned out to Sunderland 6 months later as the Spaniard looked to take advantage of his second spell in English football, where he worked under former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet for the remainder of that season. The Spaniard has been in Florence ever since and has often been deployed as a left-wing back in Paulo Sousa’s 3-4-3 system.
After loaning out Baba Rahman to Schalke, Chelsea were left with no experienced full-back in the team, while Alonso is a very versatile defender being able to cover the field all the way from center-half’s position to left winger’s role.
