Staff Reporter.
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has signed a four-year contract with AC Milan, the two teams announced on Friday.
“After 19 years as a Chelsea player, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has left the club and completed a permanent transfer to AC Milan,” Chelsea said in a statement.
“A dedicated professional and a friendly and popular person throughout Cobham (training ground), Loftus-Cheek departs having made 155 appearances – in which 13 goals were scored – and with Premier League, Europa League and Uefa Super Cup winner’s medals.”
Loftus-Cheek joins a long list of players who have left Chelsea including forward Kai Havertz to Arsenal and midfielder Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City.
Defender Kalidou Koulibaly, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and midfielder N’Golo Kante have moved to Saudi Arabia.
Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League last season for their lowest finish in nearly three decades.
Milan came fourth in Serie A to qualify for the Champions League. Loftus-Cheek is their second close-season signing after back-up keeper Marco Sportiello on a free from Atalanta.
Meanwhile Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson has joined Chelsea from Villarreal on an eight-year contract.
The 22-year-old played a vital role for Villarreal last season, scoring nine goals in the final eight matches and winning the LaLiga Player of the Month award for May.
Jackson scored 12 goals in 26 league matches last term. He also made his debut for Senegal at the World Cup in Qatar, playing for 16 minutes in the 2-0 defeat by the Netherlands.