Cesar Azpilicueta leaves Chelsea after 11 years, set to sign for Atletico Madrid

Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has ended his 11-year stay at the club today.

The 33-year-old signed a two-year deal at the beginning of last season, but the Blues terminated it this summer and he will be free to sign elsewhere as a free agent.

Azpilicueta will sign for La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid. Serie A club Inter Milan looked close to snapping him up, but he has returned to his homeland.

The Spaniard leaves Chelsea a legend and as their first player to win every possible club trophy available.

He won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup. He captained the Blues to their second-ever UCL title.

Azpilicueta joined Chelsea in 2012 from Marseille for around £7 million and made over 500 appearances across his 11 years in England.

Only five players have made more appearances for the club than the man Stamford Bridge faithful fondly referred to as ‘Dave’.

Azpilicueta returns to Spain, where he came through Osasuna’s academy before making his senior team debut in 2007.

He played for the first team between 2007 and 2010 before switching to Marseille.

Azpilicueta earned his first cap for the Spanish national team in 2013. He made 45 appearances for La Roja. 

He becomes the tenth player to leave Chelsea this summer as part of their clear-out. 

Mason Mount, Edouard Mendy, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tiemoue Bakayoko have already left.

Abdul Baba Rahman, Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, Dujon Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly have also moved to other clubs.

More could follow them as the Blues streamline their squad ahead of next season.

Azpilicueta becomes Atletico’s fourth summer signing after Caglar Soyuncu, Javi Galan and Santiago Mourino.