We were expecting this to happen yet the official confirmation still came sort of out of the blue. On Friday, Chelsea confirmed that they have agreed terms with Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG for the permanent transfer of Oscar.
Chelsea Football Club and Shanghai SIPG have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Oscar... https://t.co/7izeugHu1J
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 23, 2016
Previous rumors put the sale price somewhere in the region of £52-60m, either end of which range would represent a brand new Chelsea record sale. Oscar should be set to earn a net salary of around £20m — money that eventually proved impossible to turn down.
Oscar will join his new club on January 1st, when the winter transfer window opens. Barring any surprise appearances in the two Chelsea games remaining until that time, he will finish his 4.5-year career with the Blues with 203 appearances and 38 goals, some of which will remain etched in our memories for many more years to come.
There'll be plenty of reaction to come in the future from both club and player I'm sure; for now, all we can say is thanks for the memories and the trophies, Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior and best of luck at Shanghai. Hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.
Thank you, @oscar8 and good luck for the future. pic.twitter.com/HYpEPQsWro
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 23, 2016