Eduardo to Chelsea: Latest Transfer Details, Comments and Reaction

Chelsea announced the signing of Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Eduardo on Thursday, with the Portugal international penning a one-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Eduardo told the Stamford Bridge club's official website:

"

Having the opportunity to come to the Premier League and to Chelsea, to such a big club, it is an easy decision to make. 

For me this is the best and the most difficult league and it is another level from where I have been until now. So it is a new challenge, at this moment I feel very good, so I am ready for this. 

All the colleagues I have always say the dream is to come to the Premier League, where there are the best clubs and the best players, and the opportunity to come here arrived at this moment.

"

Eduardo, 33, will likely play back-up to Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea, along with Asmir Begovic, after Jamal Blackman joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan.

He began his senior career with Portuguese club Sporting Braga and then moved to Genoa in Italy, making 37 appearances in Serie A in 2010-11 before spending the next three terms out on loan.

Since joining Dinamo in the summer of 2014, he has been their undisputed No. 1 goalkeeper and will provide Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte with an experienced stopper to call on.

He has over 30 caps for the Portugal national team and was part of the squad that won Euro 2016 in the summer, although he was kept out of the starting XI by the impressive Rui Patricio. 

In 2015-16, Chelsea's defence was incredibly poor, conceding 53 goals in the season as they finished 10th in the Premier League, and Courtois showed surprisingly inconsistent form, per ESPN FC's Mark Worrall.

The addition of Eduardo is a smart move from Conte and Chelsea as they now have further strength in the goalkeeping department should the Belgium international drop in form again or simply need to be rested.