José Mourinho personally assured Marco van Ginkel that he would be granted significant first-team football with Chelsea to convince the Holland international to swap Vitesse Arnhem for the Premier League, with the young midfielder completing a £9m move to Stamford Bridge on Friday.
Van
Ginkel, who made his senior international debut against Germany last
November, was a key member of the Vitesse side who finished fourth in
the Eredivisie last season, their highest placing since 1998, and was
voted the best young player in the Netherlands at the end of the
campaign.
Ajax had earlier declared interest in taking him to Amsterdam earlier
this summer and the 20-year-old's instinct was to make that step up
before seeking a move at an elite club in either England or Spain.
But it was Chelsea who land the young star. Manchester United and a host of others had also tracked the player.
As a result of a close relationship between chelsea owner Roman Abramovic and the Dutch club's Georgian owner, Merab Jordania, Chelsea were able to sign him easily.
As a result of a close relationship between chelsea owner Roman Abramovic and the Dutch club's Georgian owner, Merab Jordania, Chelsea were able to sign him easily.