Chelsea have completed the £21million signing of Pedro from Barcelona on a four-year deal.
The Blues swooped with the Spanish winger on the brink of moving to Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Pedro, 28, expressed his delight upon arriving at Stamford Bridge after a year out of favour with the Catalan giants.
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Chelsea have completed the signing of winger Pedro from Barcelona for £21million
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Pedro poses with his new shirt alongside Chelsea's technical director Michael Emenalo
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Pedro shakes hands with Emenalo after completing his big-money transfer to Stamford Bridge
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Manchester United had been interested in signing Pedro, but Chelsea swooped in to land him instead
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Pedro was pictured at Chelsea's training ground alongside former Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas
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Pedro shares a joke with Chelsea full back Cesar Azpilicueta following his arrival at the Cobham complex
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Spain international Pedro has completed his £21m move from Barcelona to Premier League outfit Chelsea
Pedro changed his Twitter cover photo to a section of Blues supporters with a banner reading 'Pride of London'
He said
before training with his new team-mates: ‘I am very happy to be here. I
am very excited to start my adventure at Chelsea and I am here to keep
winning titles.
'Thanks to the club and the supporters for giving me the opportunity to put the blue shirt on.’
Pedro
was quick to nail his colours to the Chelsea mast by changing his
Twitter cover photo to a section of Blues supporters with a banner
reading 'Pride of London'.
Pedro
becomes Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's fourth new signing of the summer
after Asmir Begovic, Radamel Falcao and Abdul Baba Rahman.
United
looked to have sealed the deal to take Pedro to Old Trafford, with
executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward travelling to Barcelona to tie up
the deal.
However, Sportsmail understands the World Cup winner was underwhelmed with United's advances, his camp unaware of Woodward's trip.
Mourinho stole a march in the chase by calling up the winger personally to convince him to move to west London.
The
Premier League champions have been sprung into transfer action after
enduring a dreadful start to the season on and off the pitch,
culminating in a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
United
boss Louis van Gaal was never sold completely on the idea of signing
Pedro, with the Manchester club revealing they pulled out of any deal on
Tuesday.
They are now looking at other options, such as Southampton's Sadio Mane.
Barcelona confirmed they had agreed a fee with Chelsea, stating their thanks for Pedro's eight years of service at the Nou Camp.
Chelsea confirmed the signing of Barcelona winger Pedro on their official Twitter account
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Manchester United were in pole position to sign Pedro but Chelsea made a late bid for the Barcelona star
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Pedro has an effort at goal as Athletic Bilbao's Xabier Etxeita attempts to block his shot at the Nou Camp
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Here's what Mourinho's new team could look like
Chelsea struck a deal for £21m with £19m paid up front, more than United offered.
He
becomes the second recruit for the champions since Sunday's sobering
3-0 defeat at Manchester City, after £22m left back Rahman joined from
Augsburg.
Pedro
has sought a move from Barcelona, where his opportunities have been
limited by the dazzling presence of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis
Suarez.
Mourinho
rejected the chance to sign him in January, when Chelsea preferred to
spend £27m on Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina because he was not cup-tied
in the Champions League.
Cuadrado has been a huge disappointment and will be offered the chance to leave on loan.
Portuguese
tactician Mourinho will hope Pedro can inject the required pace,
urgency and goals into a team who have opened the season in sluggish
style, taking one point from two games.
Pedro
was delighted when Chelsea revived their interest. He was said to have
been unconvinced about a move to Old Trafford, perhaps detecting Van
Gaal's doubts about his suitability.
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