Close menu

Olivier Giroud: Chelsea sign Arsenal striker as Michy Batshuayi joins Dortmund

Last updated on .From the section Chelseacomments246

Chelsea have signed Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud on an 18-month deal for about £18m.

France international Giroud, 31, leaves Arsenal having scored 105 goals in 253 games since signing from Montpellier for a reported £12m in June 2012.

Borussia Dortmund have also confirmed a deal to sign Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi until the end of the season.

Earlier on the closing day of the winter transfer window, Dortmund sold Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal.

"Chelsea is one of the biggest teams in the Premier League - they have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years," Giroud said in a statement.

"It's a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I'm looking forward to playing."

Giroud's final appearance for Arsenal was as a substitute in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat by Swansea.

After his move to Chelsea was confirmed, Giroud thanked Gunners fans for their part in a "beautiful story" after "five and a half amazing years within the Arsenal family".

"I would like to especially thank the fans for their unconditional support upon my arrival," he wrote on Twitter.

Pundits debate winner of 'transfer triangle'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger paid tribute to Giroud's "great service" to the club.

"He never let us down on the commitment front and he saved us many times," the Frenchman said.

"We signed him from Montpellier and he became a strong, regular international player for France, and we have gone together through good and bad. But always I believe that his behaviour has been top, top class.

"He always had his heart 100% in the team and he was committed."

Wright on Aubameyang, Giroud and transfer spending

Belgium international Batshuayi, 23, has made 32 league appearances for Chelsea since joining the club from Marseille in July 2016, scoring seven goals.

Chelsea also held talks with Tottenham over a possible swap deal involving Spurs' Spanish forward Fernando Llorente - but Batshuayi rejected the move as he wanted to be a first-choice striker.

In a statement Batshuayi said he was moving to the German club to help achieve his "big goal" of playing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"In order to reach my big goal, I want to play as much as I can and score many goals," he said.

Dortmund travel to Cologne for their next Bundesliga match on 2 February.

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

246 comments

  • Comment posted by TheEarl, at 17:06 31 Jan 2018

    Arsenal have sold 3 players that scored 65 goals last season to 3 premier league rivals, difficult to consider that good business.

  • Comment posted by scottn95, at 17:08 31 Jan 2018

    Good luck Giroud. Gutted to see him go and I'm annoyed with the club for letting it happen and for how poor the fee is, but he'll be a great signing for Chelsea and I can't begrudge him wanting to play for a better team, play in the champions league and get more first team football. An absolute legend and he will always be loved at Arsenal, just frustrating he's gone to our London rivals

  • Comment posted by talks_sense, at 17:04 31 Jan 2018

    Good signing. Underrated and under appreciated at arsenal.

  • Comment posted by adams6, at 17:10 31 Jan 2018

    Willl always be held in high regard by Arsenal Fans, always gave his all.

  • Comment posted by ManUtd, at 17:04 31 Jan 2018

    Well I guess we can say that Giroud is better than Andy Carroll...

  • Comment posted by Wookie, at 17:35 31 Jan 2018

    Sad to see Giroud leave Arsenal, decent player with a good attitude unlike some of the money grabbing sulkers. A loss for us but can understand he wants more game time ahead of the World Cup.

  • Comment posted by User0487850496, at 17:20 31 Jan 2018

    Has to admit I thought Giroud was a bit of a carthorse when he moved to Arsenal, but his class and professionalism won me over.

    Think Chelsea have got a bit of a bargain here. Certainly more reliable than glass Carroll!

  • Comment posted by drummerbuoy, at 17:06 31 Jan 2018

    Thanks for the hard work. Best of luck at Chelsea.

  • Comment posted by beefy68, at 17:05 31 Jan 2018

    Welcome to CFC... Now this is a shrewd signing ⚽️

  • Comment posted by Plain aim, at 17:06 31 Jan 2018

    Giroud forced out to Chelsea. A good professional, who has never been seen to sulk, despite being left out of the team for others who fail to find the net. You could always rely on him for goals.

    Aubameyang will certainly score a few. But is likely to be a disruptive figure at the club.

    On balance Chelsea have signed a reliable Premier League man. Arsenal have made a risky signing. Le Sulk?

  • Comment posted by Phemoy, at 17:39 31 Jan 2018

    Given a great opportunity to play for Arsenal from Montpellier and he did a very good job of it, especially given the paltry £12m fee. More than paid his dues and his transfer fee back. Also got his wish to go to a top club close to home. Zero complaints but just to say thank you Olivier Giroud!

  • Comment posted by Skinny wheels, at 17:25 31 Jan 2018

    Selling some of your key players to rivals is not a good idea regardless of who you're bringing in...

  • Comment posted by Struds, at 17:16 31 Jan 2018

    Could've gone to Germany but clearly didn't want to change his hairdresser...

    Absolutely loved him in an Arsenal shirt. I can't fathom why he wasn't rated by Wenger. Could've been world class if he had any pace. He played his heart out for the club and scored a lot of important goals for us.

    Chelsea have got a quality player at a bargain price. They did best out of this particular deal

  • Comment posted by Abdi, at 17:27 31 Jan 2018

    Gooner here, honestly gutted to be losing Giroud, scored some wonderful goals for us, never doubted his commitment and the media were often unfair about his talents.
    For me Lacazette has a lot to prove, wish him luck at Chelsea, you'be got a great player, with a good football brain.
    Will miss the Giroud chant also!

  • Comment posted by EHJM, at 17:33 31 Jan 2018

    Good signing for Chelsea and a lot of class shown by Arsenal to sell him to a direct rival. Classy send off on social media too. In stark contrast to the turds from just outside Manchester who wouldn’t even wish Mkhi happy birthday on the day he left. Looks to be a good bit of business for Chelsea getting a target man that is better than llorente and decent with his feet too. Good luck batsman too

  • Comment posted by HarryJsAllstar, at 17:40 31 Jan 2018

    Impressed with the respect shown by Arsenal fans for Giroud. Too often when transfers occur, fans immediately turn on a player.

  • Comment posted by Captain Hindsight, at 17:06 31 Jan 2018

    Giroud is a great target man and probably the best 'Plan B' striker Chelsea could hope to get at this time. About 80% of Giroud's goals for Arsenal came from crosses, so he's definitely someone who could relish from the more direct tactics he'd be the focal point of at Chelsea.

  • Comment posted by blofeld1965, at 17:19 31 Jan 2018

    Great loyal servant to Arsenal who always gave 100% and the vast majority of their fans are sad to see him leave. I wish more Arsenal players had his attitude on the pitch. Hope it works out for him at Chelsea, although I can't see him getting too many games there either.

  • Comment posted by FOREST1992, at 17:03 31 Jan 2018

    Giroud is quality

  • Comment posted by Chelsea12, at 17:34 31 Jan 2018

    A decent window for Chelsea despite the criticism. Giroud a bit of a bargain, great PL record, gives something different and available for the Champions League. He isn't the sort of player that will get much worse with age either as he doesn't rely on his pace anyway. Barkley has a point to prove but £15 million for an England midfielder of his age will be easily recouped if it doesn't work out.

Also in Sport

Elsewhere on the BBC