The Brazil defender left Stamford Bridge to join the French champions in June 2014 in a transfer believed to have been worth £50million, but the 29-year-old is nearing a shock return.
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The club’s official website announced Luiz’s return to Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline day as manager Antonio Conte secured the centre-back reinforcement he’s been seeking.
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has welcomed the return of David Luiz to Stamford Bridge, while also admitting he is pleased Diego Costa made a decision to stay at the club.
It was no secret that Chelsea were in the market to bolster their backline this summer and the Blues left it till deadline day to complete a double swoop for Marcos Alonso and David Luiz for a combined fee of around £55 million.
In his three-year stay in west London, Luiz made 143 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.
Having a popular reputation among Chelsea fans, Luiz has been widely regarded as a hero for playing through pain in Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League win.
He said: “I’m delighted to return to Chelsea”.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s United States defender Matt Miazga has joined Vitesse Arnhem on loan until the end of the season.
Luiz arrived in London at St Pancras train station ahead of his proposed move and eventually completed terms on a three-year contract.
Les Parisiens settled on a £34m fee for the defender, which is just two-thirds of the sum paid to Chelsea in 2014.
Conte now has the option of Luiz, John Terry, Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma as the four central defenders in the squad at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s a step up in my career, and I think this is the flawless place for me to continue developing”, Alonso said.
And Chelsea will hope that these signings can help them in their bid to regain the Premier League title, after a disappointing 10th place finish last season.
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“I am excited to meet everyone at the club, to see the stadium and of course the fans, who I have heard so many good things about”.
