David Luiz has joined Chelsea for £38m just two years after leaving the club but, despite the Champions League winner being considered a legend by fans, he was still only Antonio Conte's third-choice centre-back signing.
Chelsea were left needing defenders with less than 24 hours until the transfer window closed after being messed around by Napoli over Kalidou Koulibaly and have had to spend big on a defender who has passed his peak.
The crisis hasn't shown on the pitch, but Chelsea have only had four senior defenders fit for their first four games of the season, with Kurt Zouma injured and Ola Aina taking the back-up spot on the bench.
Chelsea's relationship with Kia Joorabchian and Giuliano Bertolucci has now aided them in a time of need after the duo previously helped the club to sign Oscar, Matt Miazga and Kenedy, among others.
However, there have to be concerns about Luiz's form after he was recently humbled in a 3-1 loss to Monaco in which he was hauled off early into the second half having given away a penalty and he will need to step up in what is now an ultra-competitive Premier League.
He has also recently been dropped by Brazil and arrives as a clear third-choice option for Conte after Chelsea had a £34m bid rejected for Alessio Romagnoli last week, as well as their prolonged failure with Koulibaly.
The 29-year-old has a bigger responsibility at Chelsea, this time around with his mentor John Terry accepting a lesser role and a pay cut in a new deal at the end of last season.
In Luiz's defence, though, his personality in the dressing room will be a huge asset to Chelsea as he is a charismatic leader on and off the pitch, just like his former PSG team-mate and current Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He has won a stack of club honours and at least understands the rigours of the Premier League, and so he arrives to bolster Chelsea's defensive options.
Marcos Alonso has also come in from Fiorentina on deadline day so things look better for Chelsea, who needed both quantity and quality at the back.
Terry was one of the main defenders for the opening four games of the season but now Luiz has to take that responsibility on from his former mentor and change his image from a joker to a serious figure once and for all.
Chelsea were left needing defenders with less than 24 hours until the transfer window closed after being messed around by Napoli over Kalidou Koulibaly and have had to spend big on a defender who has passed his peak.
The crisis hasn't shown on the pitch, but Chelsea have only had four senior defenders fit for their first four games of the season, with Kurt Zouma injured and Ola Aina taking the back-up spot on the bench.
Chelsea's relationship with Kia Joorabchian and Giuliano Bertolucci has now aided them in a time of need after the duo previously helped the club to sign Oscar, Matt Miazga and Kenedy, among others.
However, there have to be concerns about Luiz's form after he was recently humbled in a 3-1 loss to Monaco in which he was hauled off early into the second half having given away a penalty and he will need to step up in what is now an ultra-competitive Premier League.
He has also recently been dropped by Brazil and arrives as a clear third-choice option for Conte after Chelsea had a £34m bid rejected for Alessio Romagnoli last week, as well as their prolonged failure with Koulibaly.
The 29-year-old has a bigger responsibility at Chelsea, this time around with his mentor John Terry accepting a lesser role and a pay cut in a new deal at the end of last season.
In Luiz's defence, though, his personality in the dressing room will be a huge asset to Chelsea as he is a charismatic leader on and off the pitch, just like his former PSG team-mate and current Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
He has won a stack of club honours and at least understands the rigours of the Premier League, and so he arrives to bolster Chelsea's defensive options.
Marcos Alonso has also come in from Fiorentina on deadline day so things look better for Chelsea, who needed both quantity and quality at the back.
Terry was one of the main defenders for the opening four games of the season but now Luiz has to take that responsibility on from his former mentor and change his image from a joker to a serious figure once and for all.
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