Eden Hazard has sent a goodbye message to Chelsea fans after sealing a £150million transfer to Real Madrid.
The now ex-Blues star joins Los Blancos for the same basic fee (£89m) that Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham and Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus after leaving the Bernabeu.
Add-ons are expected to make the Hazard deal more expensive than Kylian Mbappe's permanent move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018.
The Belgium international said: 'I hope you understand I had to pursue my next chapter, just as each and every one of you should when you have the chance to pursue your dreams.
'Leaving Chelsea is the biggest and toughest decision in my career to date. Now it's in the open I would like to put on record one thing was always clear to me, I have loved every moment at Chelsea and not once did I ever consider, nor would I have left for any other Club.
'Even when we were not playing well, I tried to do my best and this has been thanks to your amazing support.
'That fighting spirit, desire and the refusal to ever give up is part of the culture here at Chelsea and it comes directly from you.
'One day I will be able to sit down over a beer and talk about or laugh with pride about my missed penalty that set up my header to win the league against Palace, or those goals against Tottenham, Arsenal or Liverpool.
'You've always supported me and encouraged me to play football and be me – Like I have enjoyed myself I hope you have enjoyed yourselves, I am only sorry not leave with a defending award amongst my honours!
'Chelsea and especially Chelsea fans will always be special to me and next season I will look for your results first.
'I hope that we are drawn against each other in the Champions League next season and every season so we can meet again.
'I must thank the owner Mr Abramovich and his board for helping me realise not one, but two dreams, my first in becoming a Chelsea player and today my second, becoming a player at Real Madrid.'