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Transfer Buzz: Chelsea sign Stoke goalkeeper Begovic
July 13, 2015

Asmir Begovic during a Barclays Premier League match. Photograph: Dave Thompson/Getty Images

Chelsea have signed Stoke City's Bosnian international goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a four-year contract, the Premier League champions confirmed on Monday. 

The 28-year-old, who joined Stoke from Portsmouth in 2010, has signed for a fee reported in British media to be worth eight million pounds ($12.44 million). 

Begovic will compete with first-choice Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge after Petr Cech ended his trophy-laden 11-year spell by joining rivals Arsenal last month. 

"I am very happy to be joining Chelsea. After speaking at length to the manager (Jose Mourinho), I feel like I can develop here and be an important part of this team," Begovic told Chelsea's official website (www.chelseafc.com). 

Begovic becomes Chelsea's second signing of the close season after Colombian striker Radamel Falcao joined from AS Monaco on a season-long loan deal. 

Man United sign Schneiderlin, eye Gaitan

Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Manchester United's transfer splurge intensified with Southampton's France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin undergoing a medical with the Old Trafford club.

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United also agreed to sign Bayern Munich's Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Italy's Torino right back Matteo Darmian this weekend.

Schneiderlin, 25, was playing in the English third tier with Southampton only five years ago but has impressed in the Premier League and was in France's World Cup squad last year.

Louis Van Gaal's team, who finished fourth in the Premier League last term, are also looking at a part swap deal involving Brazilian right back Rafael and Benfica's long-coveted Argentina winger Nicolas Gaitan.

"Benfica and Manchester United are in negotiations over Gaitan and one offer includes Rafael to join Benfica," Cassiano Pereira, Rafael’s agent, told Portuguese newspaper Record.

One man seemingly definitely on his way out of Old Trafford is injury-prone striker Robin van Persie, who took to social media on Sunday to chronicle his journey to Turkey where he is poised to sign a deal with Fenerbahce.

His Netherlands team mate Memphis Depay has been recruited by United to fill the void.

Source: REUTERS
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