Gonzalo Higuain joins Chelsea on loan

Chelsea have completed the signing of Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain on loan for the rest of the season. 

The 31-year-old Argentina international spent the first half of the campaign at AC Milan, scoring eight times in 22 appearances. 

His move to Stamford Bridge sees him reunite with Blues manager Maurizio Sarri after the pair previously worked together at Napoli.

Higuain, who will not be available for Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham, said he was keen to repay Chelsea’s faith in him.

When the opportunity to join Chelsea presented itself I had to take it, he told the club’s website.

It’s a team I’ve always liked that has a lot of history, a wonderful stadium and they play in the Premier League, a league I’ve always wanted to play in.

I now hope I can give back that trust Chelsea have shown me out on the pitch. I can’t wait to start and I hope to adapt as soon as possible.

✍ It's official!@G_Higuain is a Blue! #HiguaIN

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 23, 2019

Higuain, who has been capped 75 times by his country, scored just once in his final 12 appearances for Milan. 

But his record of 36 goals in 35 Serie A games in 2015-16, his one season at Napoli under Sarri, has persuaded Chelsea to compromise on their usual policy of not signing players aged over 30 for vast sums. 

A statement on juventus.com read:

The agreement also grants to Chelsea the options to extend the duration of the loan until 30 June 2020, for a consideration of 18 million euros (£15.7million) to be paid in 2019-20 financial year, or to acquire the registration rights of the player on a permanent basis for 36 million euros (£31.3million) to be paid in two financial years.