David Luiz: Chelsea re-sign defender from PSG on three-year contract

The 29-year-old defender said he is 'delighted' to return to the west London club

Mark Critchley
Wednesday 31 August 2016 13:34 EDT
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Luiz poses in a Chelsea shirt after signing a three-year contract
Luiz poses in a Chelsea shirt after signing a three-year contract (Chelsea FC)

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Chelsea have re-signed defender David Luiz on a three-year contract from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 29-year-old defender has returned to Stamford Bridge having left for the Ligue 1 champions in a record-breaking £50m deal in 2014.

Luiz told the club's official website: "I'm delighted to return to Chelsea. We had a fantastic story during my first time at the club and I want to help the team and Antonio Conte achieve a lot of success.

'I always had a wonderful relationship with the fans and I am looking forward to wearing the blue shirt at Stamford Bridge once again.'

Luiz made 143 appearances for Chelsea during his first spell in west London, scored 12 goals and earned himself cult hero status among the club's support.

The Brazil international also won the 2012 Champions League and 2013 Europa League with Chelsea before moving to PSG prior to the 2014 World Cup.

His acquisition was part of a busy deadline day for the Blues, who signed Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina and loaned Juan Cuadrado back to Juventus for three years.

Luiz joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2011 and made 143 appearances, scoring 12 goals, before his departure three-and-a-half-years later.

The 29-year-old has played against Chelsea four times in the two years since leaving the Blues, as PSG were opponents in the Champions League in each of the last two seasons.

He vowed not to celebrate if he scored against his former club, but did so as PSG advanced on away goals at the expense of Chelsea in March 2015.

He is the latest former player to return to Chelsea. The Blues bought back Nemanja Matic, who joined Benfica as part of the deal which saw Luiz signed, while Didier Drogba recently had a second spell at Stamford Bridge.

Additional reporting by PA

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