Blues land starlet Di Santo
25 Jan 2008 - 14:05:02
Chelsea have completed the signing of promising Argentinian forward Franco Di Santo for an undisclosed fee.
The 18-year-old has moved to Stamford Bridge from Chilean side Audax Italiano on a four-and-a-half year contract.
Di Santo is an Argentina Under-20 international who several leading clubs in Europe - including Manchester United and Arsenal - were believed to be monitoring.
The teenage striker, who has scored 13 times in less than two seasons in Chile, has joined the Blues without the need for a work permit as he holds an Italian passport.
Speaking last month, Audax president Valentin Cantergiani revealed a deal for the starlet was close.
He said: "Everything is nearly agreed. There are only a few details to be resolved but there will not be any problems.
"We only have to agree the fee that Audax will receive if Di Santo is transferred again in the future and that's all. All the rest has been arranged.
"Chelsea has been more than a year following Franco and all the negotiations have been all the time very polite."
