Photo: Froztbyte / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea have signed Spanish left-back Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano on a contract running until 2031, the club confirmed on 12 August.
"I'm so excited to get started," the 28-year-old said. "This is a dream for me as Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world. It is a big opportunity but I am prepared and will work hard to help the team achieve success."
Chavarria began his career at UE Figueres, then competing in Spain's fourth tier, making his senior debut at 18 against CF Peralada. He developed into an attack-minded left-back over his first two professional seasons.
In the summer of 2018 he moved to third-tier UE Olot, where he made 52 appearances before joining second-tier Real Zaragoza in August 2020. His professional debut came the following month in a 2-2 draw with Las Palmas.
Chavarria reached La Liga when he signed for Rayo Vallecano in August 2022. Over four seasons with the Madrid club he featured 44 times last term as Rayo reached the UEFA Conference League final, where they were beaten by Crystal Palace.
During his time at Rayo, Chavarria helped the club record back-to-back eighth-place finishes in La Liga — the best results in the club's history — before completing his move to Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2026/27 season.