Eden Hazard revealed on Monday night he would be joining Chelsea in a £32million deal - a massive statement of intent by the European champions.
Hazard announced on Twitter that he would be signing for Chelsea after weeks of talks with them, MAnchester United and Manchester City.
Tricky: Eden Hazard has led his suitors a merry dance
Conformation: Hazard says he will join Chelsea
The Lille playmaker, one of the most coveted players in Europe, will sign a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge once details have been finalised.
It is an amazing coup for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who has not even appointed a manager for next season but is intent on rebuilding a team that finished only sixth in the Barclays Premier League.
The deal is a clear indication that the west Londoners will challenge the might of the Manchester clubs, especially newly-crowned champions City and their Abu Dhabi owners.
Hazard, 21, is with the Belgium squad preparing for Saturday's friendly against England at Wembley. City pulled out of the deal for Hazard last week because of his incredible salary demands, which are close to £200,000 a week, and his agent John Bico's demands for £6m.
First choice: Hazard is demanding to be an automatic first-teamer at Chelsea
Decided: Hazard lets his followers know he's made up his mind
However, Chelsea are understood to have reached a compromise agreement with his representative.
Hazard will play in a new-look Chelsea attack that is purpose built by Abramovich for the next manager.
Juan Mata, Germany international Marko Marin, who will also be coming to Stamford Bridge from Werder Bremen in a £6m deal, and Hazard are being primed for the three advanced midfield positions to provide the ammunition for Fernando Torres.
New look: Marko Marin
Hazard came to prominence with Lille during their 2010-11 title-winning season and has just been named Player of the Year in France for the second successive season.
In an attempt to lure Hazard to Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson, who will now step up his attempts to sign Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund, had offered him the famous No 7 shirt vacated by Michael Owen.
Instead the Belgian has been persuaded by Abramovich that his future lies at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's owner wants to reestablish them as the best team in the country and this is part of his plan to create one of the most attacking teams in Europe.
WHAT DO YOU GET FOR £32m
Name: Eden Hazard
Age: 21
Nationality: Belgian
International record: A27 G2 A8 (appearances, goals, assists)
League record Total:
P 147: G36 A34
11/12: P38 G20 A15
10/11: P38 G7 A10
Achievements:
Sept 2008: Becomes youngest goalscorer in Lille history
Oct 2008: Makes Belgium debut
17 May 2009: Named France's Young Player of the Year
May 2010: Becomes first player to retain Young Player of the Year award. Named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.
May 2011: Named French Player of the Year after helping Lille to their first League and Cup double since 1946. Named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.
May 2012: Named French Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, who Chelsea beat in the Champions League final, have reacted to an agonising end to their season by moving for Edin Dzeko and vowing to compete with City for Javi Martinez.
Bayern officials initially distanced themselves from Dzeko, after Sportsmail exclusively revealed in March that City manager Roberto Mancini had decided to offload the former Wolfsburg striker at the end of the season.
They have had a change of heart, though, after deciding they need another proven finisher.
With the Bosnia striker recently accepting that his days at City were numbered, a return to the Bundesliga looks certain, provided Bayern can come close to matching a likely £20million-plus asking price.
Finance is unlikely to prove a stumbling block, after a clear signal that Bayern are ready to spend lavishly to reclaim their place at the top of German football.
Bayern buying a winner: Edin Dzeko will leave City as a champion
Sporting director Christian Nerlinger attended Friday night's Spanish Cup final in Madrid to check on the form of Martinez.
Meanwhile, Schalke are keen to sign Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou, 26, on a free transfer.
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