Tiemoue Bakayoko, Chelsea Agree to 5-Year Contract After Transfer from Monaco

Chelsea announced the signing of AS Monaco defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko on Saturday, with the Frenchman penning a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

Bakayoko arrived from Stade Louis II after three seasons with Monaco, and the 22-year-old—who will wear the No. 14 in west London—said:

"I am very happy to be here and to join this great team. I have grown up watching Chelsea. Signing was the natural thing for me because it is a club I loved very much in my childhood.

"I am now looking forward to evolving under this fantastic coach and alongside so many great team-mates."

Despite his age, Bakayoko has already established himself as an accomplished player.

He played a key role in Leonardo Jardim's impressive young Monaco side that won Ligue 1 in 2016-17 and made the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

As well as boasting all the traditional qualities of a solid central player—physicality, strength in the tackle, intelligence—Bakayoko is also more than capable advancing forward on the ball, per WhoScored.com:

Chelsea must be convinced by his talent and the promise he has shown in Ligue 1 with Monaco over the last few seasons, during which he has developed from a fringe player to a first-team regular.

At Stamford Bridge, Bakayoko will have plenty to prove, especially since he will be playing in an unfamiliar league.

He will also have to compete for first-team places with the likes of Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and 2016-17 PFA Player of the Year N'Golo Kante.

Bakayoko, however, has so far in his career risen to challenges effectively, and new manager Antonio Conte has a major talent on his hands who could become a superstar if well nurtured.