Asmir Begovic has completed his transfer to Chelsea from Stoke City.
The Premier League champions has moved in time to fill the vacuum left by the departed Petr Cech, who has since joined Arsenal, by adding the Bosnia-Hercegovina international in a deal believed to worth £8m.
The 28-year-old has signed a four-year contract, and is their second signing of the summer following the arrival of Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from French club Monaco.
Begovic told the club’s website: “I am very happy to be joining Chelsea FC. After speaking at length to the manager, I feel like I can develop here and be an important part of this team. I am looking forward to meeting up with the team on Wednesday for the pre-season tour.”
Begovic joined Stoke from Portsmouth in January 2010 and made 172 appearances for the Potter. His first-minute goal from 97.5 yards against Southampton in the 2013-14 Premier League season helped him earn an official world record in Guinness Book for the “longest goal scored in football.”
Begovic, who played for Canada at U-20 level between 2004 and 2007, has made 41 appearances for Bosnia-Herc at full international level, four of which came at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Belgian shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois will retain his No. 13 jersey, while the in-coming Begovic inherits the No. 1 jersey previously won by Cech.
