Chelsea sign Chavarria in £16m deal - who is the left-back?

What the report says

Chelsea have completed the signing of left-back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano in a deal reported by BBC Sport to be worth about £16.3m, with a further £1.7m possible in add-ons. The 28-year-old has agreed a five-year contract and arrives after an unusual career path that took him through Spain’s lower leagues before he reached La Liga at the age of 24.

BBC Sport says Chavarria spent four years at Rayo, where he made 125 appearances and became a regular on the left side of defence. He made 45 appearances last season, scoring once and providing three assists in all competitions. His performances, including a strong display against Real Madrid and a start in last season’s Conference League final, appear to have helped make him a target for Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso.

The move is significant for Chelsea because it adds depth at left-back and fits Alonso’s preferred wing-back approach. The report also notes that Marc Cucurella left for Real Madrid in June, increasing the need for cover in that position.

BBC Sport said the negotiations were difficult, with Rayo initially insisting that Chavarria would only leave if his release clause was met. The club’s resistance reflected both his contract situation and their stronger financial position, while Chelsea viewed him as a player whose underlying numbers compare favourably with Cucurella.