Chelsea goalkeeper target bids farewell to club, hours after leading them into Champions League

Last week, Dinamo Zagreb manager Zlatko Kranjcar basically confirmed that his veteran goalkeeper Eduardo is not only leaving the club, but that the he is leaving for "a big club such as Chelsea."  While technically that doesn't rule out clubs not named Chelsea, it's been assumed that the 33-year-old Eduardo will be joining Chelsea soon.

How soon?  Very soon.

"At the same time I am happy and sad. This was beautiful story, but I got chance in a big club. It is the opportunity of lifetime and I think I deserved it."

"I am leaving Dinamo when the club qualified for Champions league, I am thrilled for that success. I hope people will remember me in Zagreb as a person that always gave his best for club and fans and that everyone will keep nice memory of me. I sure will have great memory of Dinamo and Zagreb and all people I played and worked with here."

-Eduardo; source: GNK Dinamo via FourFourTwo

Just hours after back-stopping Dinamo Zagreb to a 2-1 extra-time victory over Red Bull Salzburg, which confirmed the Croatian champions' place in the Champions League group stages, the goalkeeper has bid farewell to the team.

It's been quite a few months for the man who was once signed as Marco Amelia's replacement at Genoa (in 2010).  Eduardo won a second Croatian championship in May, was part of Portugal's Euro 2016-winning squad in June and July, helped Dinamo into the Champions League for the first time in four seasons in August, and is now set for the biggest move of his career.  (Unless this is a massive troll-job on everyone's part.)

Whether Eduardo joins as the second- or third-choice goalkeeper behind Thibaut Courtois will depend on whether Asmir Begovic leaves in the next week.  Everton have been rumored for some as a possible destination, though Pep Guardiola's dislike of Joe Hart at Manchester City may have offered up a different option for the Toffees.