Chelsea Confirm £18m Giroud Arrival From Arsenal

Chelsea have completed the signing of French striker Olivier Giroud from Arsenal.

The deal was confirmed by the Premier League champions on their official website on Wednesday.

The 18-month contract is reported to have cost around £18 million.

The former Montpellier striker replaces Michy Batshuayi who joined Borussia Dortmund on loan.

“Chelsea Football Club has today completed the signing of striker Olivier Giroud from Arsenal,” Chelsea confirmed on their website.

“Giroud arrives with a wealth of experience and a proven pedigree at the highest level having scored goals regularly in the Premier League, in Europe and on the international stage, where he has represented France at three major tournaments.

“A strong, physical forward, Giroud is lethal in the air and clinical with his feet in and around the penalty area.
The 31-year-old will wear the number 18 shirt and has signed an 18-month-contract.

“Giroud quickly adapted to the demands of English football, and has averaged close to a goal every other game in his five-and-a-half seasons with Arsenal, lifting the FA Cup three times, including in 2015 when he scored at Wembley against Aston Villa.

“His best goalscoring return in a season at the Emirates came in 2015/16 when he found the net 24 times, including hat-tricks against Olympiakos, in the Champions League, and Villa.

“Last season, the Frenchman scored an impressive 16 times despite starting just 17 games in all competitions, as well as winning the club’s Goal of the Season award for a magnificent ‘scorpion kick’ volley against Crystal Palace.

“Giroud reached the 100-goal mark for Arsenal earlier this season when he scored from the penalty spot in a Europa League game against Bate Borisov, with his 105th – and final – strike for the club arriving in last month’s 1-1 draw at Southampton.

“Giroud has been involved regularly with the France national team since making his debut in 2011, appearing at two European Championships and the 2014 World Cup, in which he opened the scoring as France beat Switzerland 5-2.

“He joins compatriots N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko in the Chelsea squad, and he is eligible to play in all three competitions for the Blues.

Speaking on his Chelsea move, Giroud said: “Chelsea is one of the biggest teams in the Premier League. They have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years. It’s a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I’m looking forward to playing.”