Chelsea Transfer News: Antonio Rudiger Joins Blues from Roma on 5-Year Contract

Chelsea finally made Antonio Rudiger's move to the club official Sunday as the former AS Roma defender signed a five-year contract with the Blues.

The club announced the news via its official website. In a statement, Rudiger expressed his joy at joining the Premier League champions: "It's a great feeling because not every player has the opportunity to join a huge club like this.

"I am looking forward to meeting up with my new team-mates, and I'm very proud to officially become a Chelsea player."

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

The 24-year-old joined Roma from VfB Stuttgart in 2015, with his loan move made permanent last summer. He enjoyed a fine 2016-17 campaign and played a key role in Germany's run to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Blessed with remarkable athleticism and pace for a defender, he greatly improved his vision in Italy and became a complete centre-back. He's also comfortable playing on the left or right side of a three-man defence, which made him a perfect target for the Blues.

Rudiger's move had been rumoured for weeks, leading to this tweet from Footy Accumulators:

The German becomes the first major signing of the summer for Chelsea, who are expected to add more pieces to their squad with UEFA Champions League action on the horizon.