Christensen joins Barcelona after Chelsea contract winds down

Barcelona have signed Andreas Christensen after the Dane's contract at Chelsea expired at the end of June.

The defender agreed to a four-year deal with the Blaugrana and will be officially unveiled on Thursday. His arrival marks Barca's second signing of Monday after midfielder Franck Kessie was also brought in on a free transfer.

Chelsea have now lost two first-team defenders to La Liga this summer. Antonio Rudiger said he snubbed Barcelona to join Real Madrid in June after negotiations over a new contract at Stamford Bridge broke down.

Christensen, whose release clause at Barcelona is set at €500 million, made his professional debut under Jose Mourinho during the 2014-15 campaign, but he didn't fully establish himself in Chelsea's senior ranks until he returned from two seasons on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach.

He won the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea. His most Premier League minutes came under Antonio Conte (2017-18 season) and Frank Lampard (2019-20).

Christensen, 26, will compete with Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, and Gerard Pique for starts in Barcelona's defense. Fellow center-back Clement Lenglet is linked with a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur.