Chelsea signs defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma
LONDON (AP) Chelsea has signed defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma ahead of its Premier League title defense.
The 24-year-old Rudiger signed a five-year deal on Sunday, a week after winning the Confederations Cup with Germany in Russia.
Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo says ''Antonio is still young but is experienced at club and international level and possesses all the requisite attributes to thrive in the Premier League.''
Rudiger becomes the club's third signing of the summer, after Willy Caballero (Manchester City) and Ethan Ampadu (Exeter City) and Conte has been in need of defensive reinforcement, especially after the departures of Nathan Aké and John Terry, who went to Bournemouth and Aston Villa respectively. The Premier League champions also welcomed the return of the talented Andreas Christensen, back from a two-year spell with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The German international is a versatile defender, able to play as a center-back and right-back with ease, and this is something that attracts a club that prioritizes a 3-4-3 system.
