Midfielder Matić seals Chelsea switch

Chelsea FC have signed 21-year-old Serbian international midfielder Nemanja Matić on a four-year deal from MFK Košice for a reported €1.75m fee.

Serbian international
The elegant central midfielder has been capped twice for Serbia and also represented his country at this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship, though his time at the tournament was short-lived after he broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during his side's opening game against Italy. The injury could keep him on the sidelines for a few more weeks.

Leading light
After being rejected in his teens by both Belgrade giants, FK Crvena Zvezda and FK Partizan, Matić began his career in the lower leagues with FK Jedinstvo Ub and FK Kolubara, before signing for Slovakia's Košice in January 2007. He quickly established himself as a leading light in the Superliga and made his Serbia debut in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Poland last December.

Familiar faces
Matič, whose younger brother Uroš still plays for Košice, becomes the third Serbian on Chelsea's books alongside Branislav Ivanović and Slobodan Rajkovic, who is on loan at FC Twente. He is also Chelsea's fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of defender Yuri Zhirkov, striker Daniel Sturridge and goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.