David Luiz has thanked Chelsea after agreeing a proposed deal to join Paris Saint-Germain and end his three and a half year stay at Stamford Bridge. While Betfair fans were taken somewhat by surprised by the deal, Ligue 1 champions PSG made the first big move of the European summer by shelling out a fee raising to £50 million to sign the Brazilian defender.

 

While the 27-year old is currently preparing for the upcoming World Cup – which the hosts will start as the Betfair favourites for the title – PSG wasted little time in making their first signing of the summer – in a deal that appears to have worked out well for all parties concerned.

 

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had never made any secret that he wasn’t Luiz’ biggest fan, and Betfair punters are now expecting Chelsea to be particularly active in this summer’s transfer market. While there has never been any doubt over Luiz’ ability, Chelsea fans will be the first to admit the Brazilian isn’t a traditional or dependable central defender – often prone to bouts of apparent lunacy in costly positions – and not a player who could ever fit in with Mourinho’s way of doing things.

 

Luiz, who made 143 appearances for Chelsea during his time in west London, was quick to praise the Blues after news broke of the deal with PSG.

 

“Thank you Chelsea. I am sad to leave because of the friends that will stay but I am happy to be on my way to another big European club and to go to a city that has always fascinated me. This is a new stage and new challenges and I am sure that together we will go even further. Allez Paris!”

 

This summer’s World Cup will give PSG fans the chance to see how the centre of their defence will look next season, with Luiz being backed by Betfair tipsters to partner his new club team-mate Thiago Silva in the middle of the Brazil back-line.