It was a signing completed with just minutes of the summer transfer window to spare – and one celebrated by Chelsea supporters and championed by the club. "He is a proven winner, a player with huge experience and we know he will be very well-suited to the challenges that face us on all fronts in the coming year," said Blues director Marina Granovskaia.
The player in question? Saul Niguez, who joined Chelsea on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid. The arrival of the midfielder was viewed as the final piece of the puzzle. "He completes our squad as we compete for honours in five different competitions this season," added Granovskaia.
There were several reasons for that optimism. Saul arrived having made 340 appearances for Atletico; his experience at the top level was beyond doubt. Yet he had a point to prove after a difficult 2020/21 campaign at the Wanda Metropolitano in which he had often been shunted out to left wing-back by Diego Simeone.
