'You have been everything for me'
Kalidou Koulibaly has said goodbye to Napoli as he signs for Chelsea, saying: "you have been everything for me".
The centre-back joined Napoli in 2014 from Genk and spent eight years with the Italian club, winning the Supercoppa Italiana in 2014 as well as the Coppa Italia in 2020.
But he is now set to join Chelsea in a deal reported to be worth £34million.
"Now I feel I have to leave and get back into the game: it's time for a new adventure. Go Napoli forever."
He will look to help Chelsea close the gap to Liverpool and Manchester City, after the Londoners finished 18 points off second place and 19 adrift of top spot in the 2021-22 campaign.
The Senegal defender posted an Instagram post on Friday, where he bid farewell to the Napoli fans.
The caption read: "Victories, defeats, joys, disappointments. Too many emotions lived together: impossible to summarise them. But I keep everything: in my mind, in my heart.
"My two children were born in Naples. I have met people who will always be part of my life and who made me and my family feel at home: from the first to the last moment. Thanks to you, Naples, I became the man I am today.
"Thanks to the club, the president, the coaches, all my team-mates and all the people I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. Thank you, Naples and Neapolitans, for all the love we have given each other.
"Now I feel I have to leave and get back into the game: it's time for a new adventure. Go Napoli forever."
Chelsea have completed the signing of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli on a four-year contract, the Premier League club said on Saturday.
British media reported that Chelsea paid a fee in the region of 32 million pounds ($37.93 million) for the 31-year-old, who becomes the London side's second summer signing after Raheem Sterling.
"I'm very happy to be here with this team at Chelsea," Koulibaly said in a statement. "It's a big team in the world and my dream was always to play in the Premier League.
"Chelsea came first to get me in 2016 but we didn't make it. Now when they came to me I accepted it because they really wanted me to come to the Premier League to play for them."
Chelsea lost centre backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen earlier in the close season, and Koulibaly's addition will come as a boost for Thomas Tuchel's side as they look to close the gap on Manchester City and Liverpool.
Koulibaly made 317 appearances for Napoli after joining from Belgian club Genk in 2014, winning two trophies and cementing his place among some of the top defenders in Italy.
He was included in the Serie A Team of the Year four times and named the league's best defender in 2018-19.
Koulibaly also spoke out against racism during his time at Napoli after he was subjected to abuse by crowds on several occasions.
"Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the world's elite defenders and we are delighted to be welcoming him to Chelsea," said new Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly.
"A great leader and an exemplary team player, Kalidou brings a wealth of experience and attributes that will benefit our squad and the club as a whole."
Chelsea, who finished third last season, are currently in the United States on a pre-season tour. They kick off the new campaign with a trip to Everton on Aug. 6.
A living Naples legend
The Senegal ace has been a rock at the heart of the Napoli defence ever since he arrived at the club.
In eight seasons Koulibaly played a total of 317 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 14 goals.
He also won two trophies with Napoli, the 2019-20 Coppa Italia and 2014 Supercoppa, while steering the side to three second-place finishes in Serie A and five appearances in the Champions League.
He will go down in club history as a true legend, while promising to shore up Chelsea's defence with his talents following the exit of Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.