Mohamed Salah: Chelsea sign Basel midfielder for £11m

 

Chelsea have signed Egypt midfielder Mohamed Salah from Swiss champions Basel for a fee in the region of £11m. 

The 21-year-old, who will wear the number 15 shirt, has signed a five-and-a-half year deal.
"I'm very happy to sign for Chelsea. I hope I can make the Chelsea supporters happy and have a good career at the club for many years," said Salah. 

He made 47 appearances for former club Basle, who he joined in June 2012, scoring nine goals.

Salah is Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's third signing in the January transfer window after the arrivals of Nemanja Matic and Bertrand Traore.

Chelsea's Premier League rivals Liverpool were also interested in signing Salah and had held talks with Basel.

His arrival comes at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea sold midfielder Juan Mata to Manchester United for £37.1m on Saturday.

His capture will also offer Mourinho a further attacking option, following Kevin De Bruyne's move to Wolfsburg.
 
Salah, who can operate in a variety of attacking roles, has been tracked by a number of clubs after impressive displays in the Europa League last term and in this season's Champions League.

The Egypt international scored against Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2013, before getting goals in both Champions League matches against them this season.

"First of all he won't score against Chelsea - which is a good thing," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.

"But speaking seriously we had to react to the Mata situation. We had to go for a young player, for a left-footed player and for a fast player - especially who is fast in the space because most of my attacking players are fast and fast with the ball. 

"Salah is a kind of player that looks for the space and tries to get behind people so we think he was a good choice."

After starting his career at Egyptian side El Mokawloon, Salah moved to Basel in 2012 and scored five league goals in 29 appearances as they secured a fourth league title in as many seasons.

His form this season has helped Basel to top spot in their domestic league ahead of its resumption after a winter-break.

Salah, who made his Egypt debut in 2011, finished as joint-top goalscorer in Africa's World Cup qualifying groups with six goals.

He was, however, unable to help his country to Brazil 2014 as they were beaten over two legs by Ghana in a play-off.