OFFICIAL: Andreas Christensen joins Barca

Barcelona have already signed their first defender for the 2022-23 season. The team, led by Xavi, has made the signing of center-back Andreas Christensen official, with a contract until 2026.

The Dane joins ‘los cules’ on a free transfer, after finishing his contract on the 30th June with Chelsea. The ‘blues’ were unable to retain an important player for themselves.

This was a signing that had been in the works for several months. Since January 1, Christensen was able to negotiate with any team that he liked. Inter Milan and Bayern Munich wanted him, but in the end it was Barcelona who won the race.

Christensen has signed four year deal. He joins a backline of Gerard Piqué, Ronald Araujo, Eric García, Samuel Umtiti and Clément Lenglet, pending the departure of some of them.

Andreas Christensen has spent his entire career playing for Chelsea. He came to London as a 17 year-old from Brondby, and his native Denmark, and from then has grown at Stamford Bridge.

It was briefly interrupted due to a two season loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he ended his ascent into the European footballing elite.

“I was training with Chelsea and Aston Villa at the same time, and other clubs also wanted me to train with them. I kept comparing the other clubs to Chelsea, and I realized I was comparing them because it was the place where I wanted to go”, Christensen said, on why he chose Chelsea.

He won it all in his youth days, with success in the Youth League, then called the Next Gen Series, with Chelsea. There began the legend of a player who has grown up around Stamford Bridge.

His stint in Germany was the gap year that every young person needs to grow. “I think I was very lucky, it was similar to what I had in England and that helped me. In Germany, I improved individually. We had a strong team and the way we played was very attacking, so that prepared me,” he stated.

Gary Cahill’s departure gave him the opportunity to break into the first team. Antonio Conte was key in him becoming a regular starter for the London club.

Now, after a decade at Chelsea, Andreas Christensen says goodbye to what has been his professional home all his life. He now joins Barcelona, who signed him for free.