Marc Cucurella has sent an emotional farewell message to Chelsea after his £51.8million transfer to Real Madrid was confirmed. The left-back returns to his native Spain after three years at Stamford Bridge.
Cucurella's Farewell Video
In a video posted on social media, Cucurella said he arrived at Chelsea "as a young lad with a dream of winning trophies and playing in the Champions League". He acknowledged "a tough start", but admitted that "London will always be my home and a part of my history". The defender said he was leaving Stamford Bridge "as a man", thanking coaches, staff, team-mates and fans. He ended with: "I truly hope to see Chelsea up, where [they] belong and deserve to be."
Career at Chelsea
Cucurella made 115 appearances for Chelsea after joining from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2023. The move was announced during the World Cup, but following Spain's run to the final and their second World Cup triumph, he was given additional time off before joining his new team-mates.
Reunion with Mourinho
At Real Madrid, Cucurella will play under former Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho, who returned to the Santiago Bernabeu after 13 years away.
Chelsea's Off-Season Changes
Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season, prompting the departures of Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior. Alonso has since taken over as manager. The new boss has already signed Marco Palestra and Morgan Rogers, while Maxence Lacroix is poised to become the third summer arrival. Bids have been turned down for Granit Xhaka and Alex Scott, with talks ongoing over moves for Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck as Chelsea seeks more experience in a young dressing room.
