Chelsea have confirmed that the Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic has returned to the club from Benfica in a deal understood to be worth €25 million.
The 25-year-old, who will wear the number 21 shirt, made three substitute appearances for Chelsea after signing from MSK Kosice in 2009, but left in January 2011 as part of the deal to sign David Luiz, in which he was valued at €3.6m.
Matic, who has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, told the club’s website: “I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club. I feel very good because of that and just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy.”
On leaving Benfica, he said: “I want to thank all the people at the club and all the supporters. Benfica will forever be in my heart. I played here for two and a half years. I gave my best in every training session, every match, and now is the right time to leave.
“I want to improve, I want to go to a better league and I want to go to Chelsea, the club which I also love.”
José Mourinho said: "I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea. He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions."
