Petr Cech Completes Transfer to Arsenal from Chelsea

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has joined Arsenal in one of the bigger deals of the summer.

The club's announcement included a statement from Cech discussing the move:

"

I’m really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can't wait to join up for pre-season. I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career, and I love the challenges brought by the top quality players you face while playing in the Premier League. When Arsene Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club, and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear.

"

On June 26, David Ornstein of BBC Sport reported Cech was set to undergo a medical, noting that personal terms and a fee had been agreed. Sky Sports News HQ provided news that Arsenal had agreed to a £10.9 million fee with Chelsea for the veteran keeper on June 23.

Greg Stobart of Goal explained that Cech was "keen to avoid uprooting his family, with his two children settled at school in the capital," hence his switch to one of the Blues' local rivals.

Cech had previously been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, according to the Daily Mirror's Adrian Kajumba, while the player's interest in Manchester United had also been mentioned by his agent, Viktor Kolar, via Daily Sports' Karel Haring. 

The deal represents a significant triumph for Arsenal over two top-class adversaries, as Haring had quoted Kolar saying in mid-May as saying that Cech had Arsenal, United and PSG as his most desired destinations.

Cech’s future at Chelsea became uncertain after he lost his place as first-choice keeper to Thibaut Courtois, and the Czech Republic international made just six Premier League appearances last season, according to WhoScored.com. 

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Jose Mourinho had not wanted Cech to join another Premier League club, via Simon Peach of the Independent, admitting on May 9, "The option I don't want is for him to go to an English club."

Cech deserves the opportunity to play regular first-team football at this stage of his career, given his service and dedication to Chelsea for over a decade.

His decision to go against his former manager's wishes will provide an interesting subplot if Cech lines up for the Gunners against Chelsea next season.