MX23RW : Saturday, November 2 18:28:04| >> :60:2663:2663:

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain joins Chelsea on loan

Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain joins Chelsea on loan
© Reuters
The 31-year-old spent the first half of the season with AC Milan.

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."

Maurizio Sarri
Gonzalo Higuain scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A games for Maurizio Sarri's Napoli in 2015-16 (Scott Heavey/PA)

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.

Higuain's arrival means Spanish striker Alvaro Morata is now expected to leave west London.

Manager Sarri believes former Real Madrid man Higuain can contribute more than just goals as the Blues battle for a top-four Premier League finish and Champions League qualification.

"It's very difficult in January to find one of the most important strikers in the world. So I think the club is working very well because it's not easy to get a new striker," said Sarri.

"We hope he'll bring goals, that he starts scoring for us. He's also very good at other aspects, other than just goals, but that's what we are hoping for.

"He has had some difficulties recently, but we're hoping we can raise him back to his best form."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '6efebc4e-4a9e-4a85-a413-b15e9c250a45');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain joins Chelsea on loan'});

ID:347726: cacheID:347726:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7096:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
AC Milan striker Gonzalo Higuain pictured in October 2018
Read Next:
The lowdown on Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentina striker set to lift the Blues
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Arsenal105321711618
5Aston Villa95311611518
6Chelsea95221911817
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
8Bournemouth104331312115
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
11Brentford94141818013
12Fulham93331212012
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!