Chelsea put the finishing touches on the club's third incoming transaction of the summer transfer window, signing veteran Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo dos Reis Carvalho on Thursday.
Commonly known as just Eduardo, the 33-year-old decided to leave Dinamo Zagreb despite helping them reach the group stages of the Champions League, taking the next step in an already busy summer of winning the Croatian domestic title and then Euro 2016 with Portugal, where he served as backup to Rui Patricio.
Eduardo: "A big club like #Chelsea can choose whoever they want. They chose me and I am proud. I hope to respect all expectations."
— Chelsea HQ (@Chelsea_HQ) August 25, 2016
Signing just a one-year contract, the highly experienced former Genoa man (where he worked with new Chelsea goalkeeper coach Gianluca Spinelli) probably isn't under any delusions of grandeur as far as his playing time this season. Unless Asmir Begovic hightails it out during the last week of the window — "have you ever seen Chelsea secure a replacement before letting someone go?", he asked cynically — Eduardo will be the new Marco Amelia this season, a veteran presence in the dressing room and on the training pitch. (Whenever not being busy on the set as Jason Statham's scruffy-looking, bearded body double.)
Eduardo: "I've come to be part of this family and I will always do my best. That’s what I can promise, to always help the team and be 100%."
— Chelsea HQ (@Chelsea_HQ) August 25, 2016
Welcome, Eduardo.