English champions Chelsea have agreed a deal with Barcelona for the signing of Spanish international winger Pedro Rodriguez, both clubs announced on Thursday.
“FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Pedro Rodriguez for 30 million euros ($33.2 million, ÂŁ21.2 million), three of which are variables depending on performance,” Barcelona said in a statement.
Pedro chose the Premier League champions over rival suitors Manchester United and Manchester City, the 28-year-old’s arrival at Stamford Bridge ending a summer-long transfer saga.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho’s latest acquisition turns up in London boasting five La Liga trophies and three Champions League titles.
“I am very happy to be here. I am very excited to start my adventure at Chelsea and I am here to keep winning titles,” Pedro told his new club’s website.
“Thanks to the club and the supporters for giving me the opportunity to put the blue shirt on.”
He left Barcelona having fallen down the pecking order at the Camp Nou under Luis Enrique, who has preferred the all-star front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez and has used the Canary-Islands born player more sparingly.
The compact Pedro – full name Pedro Eliezer RodrĂguez Ledesma – is a product of Barcelona’s youth academy. He made his first team debut in January 2008 after catching the eye for their B team.      Â
He developed to become an integral part of Barcelona’s winning machine, and was the first player ever to score in the Spanish league, Copa del Rey, Champions League, both the European and Spanish Super Cups as well as the World Club Cup.
His brilliant performances at club level saw him secure a place in the Spain squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Pedro started both the semi-final and final, and was a key figure in their victory over the Netherlands.
A year later he scored the opening goal in the Champions League final at Wembley as Bar?a beat Manchester United 3-1.
He was a substitute alongside then Chelsea players Fernando Torres and Juan Mata in Spain’s Euro 2012 victory over Italy. The winger was also part of the squad which travelled to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.
Pedro came on as a late substitute in Barcelona’s most recent major success – May’s Champions League final win over Juventus in Berlin.
His final act for Barca was to score the winning goal in last week’s dramatic 5-4 extra-time defeat of Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup in Tbilisi. –Â Agence France-Presse
