Azpilicueta set to end 11-year Chelsea career today as he nears Atletico move

Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta is set to join La Liga side Atletico Madrid on a free transfer after agreeing to a two-year deal.

The 33-year-old has one year left on the extension he signed with Chelsea last summer, but will be allowed to depart for nothing.

Azpilicueta will call time on his trophy-laden Chelsea career that is sure to see him remembered as a club legend.

After joining from Ligue 1 side Marseille in 2012, the defender has gone on to make 508 appearances for the club over the past 11 seasons.

His list of honours at Chelsea include the League Cup, FA Cup, two Europa League wins, two Premier League titles and the Champions League, which he lifted as captain in 2021.

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Azpilicueta has played under nine different permanent managers at Chelsea and enjoyed his best run of form during the 2016-17 title winning campaign under Antonio Conte that saw him flourish in a back-three.

The Spanish international’s departure takes Chelsea’s tally of first-team sales to eight and follows Mason Mount’s exit on Wednesday.

Mauricio Pochettino is keen to clear the decks and usher in a fresh start for the club without key names who achieved success in the past - including their all action skipper Azpilicueta.

The Spaniard will be making his first return to La Liga since leaving Osasuna, where he graduated from the youth ranks, in 2010. He has earned 45 caps for the national team since making his debut in 2013.

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