Sports
Official: Chelsea sign Danilo Pantic
The 18-year-old announced he was to move to Stamford Bridge in January and has now completed his transfer from Partizan Belgrade before being loaned to Vitesse
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Partizan Belgrade youngster Danilo Pantic with the midfielder being immediately loaned out to Vitesse for the season.
The 18-year-old revealed in January that he was set to sign for the Premier League champions, with the initial understanding that the move would be confirmed during the winter transfer window.
Pantic, who can play on either the left of midfield or centrally, has reportedly signed a four-year deal at Stamford Bridge but will have to wait for an opportunity in the first team as he will now move to the Eredivisie.
"I am very happy to sign for Chelsea, the champions of the English Premier League, and I hope I can show my value at Vitesse in the coming season," he told the club's official website.
"I am honoured at the faith both clubs have shown in me."
Christian Benteke.
London - Liverpool signed Belgian
international striker Christian Benteke from Premier League rivals Aston Villa,
the Merseyside club announced on Wednesday.
Although neither the length of the
contract nor the fee were disclosed, several British media organisations said
Benteke had signed a five-year deal worth £32.5 million - which was the cost of
the buy-out clause in his contract.
The 24-year-old's 12 goals in as
many games at the business end of last season played a key role in helping
Villa avoid relegation from the lucrative top flight of English football.
Liverpool signed Benteke, who still
has two years left on his Villa contract, after off-loading forward Raheem
Sterling to Manchester City for a record fee for an English player that could
rise to as much as 49 million.
"I'm very happy to be here and
I would like to thank the owners, Ian (Ayre, chief executive who pushed the
deal through) and of course the manager for their massive effort to bring me
here," Benteke told liverpoolfc.com, his new club's website.
"I think it was the right club
for me because I had a good chat with the manager and I wanted to be part of
his project.
"I know Liverpool is a big
story. They've won league titles and the Champions League five times and of
course the UEFA Cup and a lot of trophies. I know it's a big club.
"I'm very happy to be part of
the Liverpool family now and I will do everything to make them happy and work
hard for them and my team-mates."
Benteke will not meet the majority
of his new team-mates until they return from their tour of Australia and Asia,
which concludes with Friday's match against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur.
However, he will find some familiar
faces at Anfield in fellow Belgium internationals Simon Mignolet, the Liverpool
goalkeeper, and forward Divock Origi.
Liverpool have not won the English
title in the Premier League era, their last equivalent success coming with a
then record 18th national championship when they lifted the old First Division
trophy in 1990.
Last season they finished sixth in
the Premier League, outside of the Champions League places, having been
runners-up in the previous campaign.
But Benteke, Liverpool manager
Brendan Rodgers's seventh pre-season signing, said he expected to win silverware
during his time at Anfield.
"I think there are quality
players, a lot of good players with big names of course," he added.
"I'm happy to be part of this team and will (try) to help this team reach
its goals.
"I want to be the best and I
want to reach the best of myself. I came here to win trophies. I came here to
reach some great goals with the team."
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