It's Official! Petr Cech joins Arsenal from Chelsea
Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. Cech, 33, moves to the Emirates Stadium on a long-term contract after 11 years at Chelsea.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club's official website: "Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us. He has proven over many seasons that he is one of the outstanding keepers in the world and he will add great strength to our squad."
Cech added: "I'm really excited about joining Arsenal Football Club and can't wait to join up for preseason. I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career, and I love the challenges brought by the top quality players you face while playing in the Premier League.
"When Arsene Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club, and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear." The Czech Republic international decided to leave Chelsea after losing his place to Thibaut Courtois last season, but he has paid tribute to his former club.
"I thought this would never happen but it is time for me to say goodbye to Chelsea Football Club," he wrote in a message on his personal Twitter account.
"The club I have lived every single minute for since joining in July 2004, the club in which I thought I'd hang my gloves and boots one day and finish my career. But life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will.
"Since 2004 it has been an incredibly journey with so many highs and not many lows. We have managed to win every single English trophy as well as the Europa League and the biggest of all -- Champions League. Looking back at all the achievements, including our first-ever league [and FA Cup] double in 2010, back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, multiple EPL and FA Cup wins, I couldn't be more proud. As a team, we made history together.
"Last summer, things changed and I understood I was not the first-choice keeper but I felt it was not the right time for me to go. During the season it became clear that my situation would not improve and as I know I am not at the stage of my career where I want to be on the bench, I made my decision to move on and look for new challenges."
Cech also thanked Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for allowing him to join a Premier League rival.
David Ospina, who displaced Wojciech Szczesny as first-choice keeper after joining Arsenal last summer, has been linked with a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.
"I thought this would never happen but it is time for me to say goodbye to Chelsea Football Club," he wrote in a message on his personal Twitter account.
"The club I have lived every single minute for since joining in July 2004, the club in which I thought I'd hang my gloves and boots one day and finish my career. But life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will.
"Since 2004 it has been an incredibly journey with so many highs and not many lows. We have managed to win every single English trophy as well as the Europa League and the biggest of all -- Champions League. Looking back at all the achievements, including our first-ever league [and FA Cup] double in 2010, back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, multiple EPL and FA Cup wins, I couldn't be more proud. As a team, we made history together.
"Last summer, things changed and I understood I was not the first-choice keeper but I felt it was not the right time for me to go. During the season it became clear that my situation would not improve and as I know I am not at the stage of my career where I want to be on the bench, I made my decision to move on and look for new challenges."
Cech also thanked Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for allowing him to join a Premier League rival.
David Ospina, who displaced Wojciech Szczesny as first-choice keeper after joining Arsenal last summer, has been linked with a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.
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