Chelsea have accidentally announced the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid before officially completing the deal.
Kovacic is expected to complete a permanent move to club imminently, having been on loan at Stamford Bridge last season, meaning he is already registered with the club and can be signed despite a two-window transfer ban imposed by Uefa.
An article announcing Kovacic’s signing briefly appeared on Chelsea’s mobile app on Saturday night, despite no official confirmation, before being taken down.
The article was an interview with Kovacic who described Chelsea as “a fantastic club, with great team-mates and we play a good style of football”.
He added: “I am very happy to be staying here and very proud to be a Chelsea player.”
1/22 Petr Cech – 7
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2/22 Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 6
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3/22 Laurent Koscielny – 6
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4/22 Nacho Monreal – 5
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5/22 Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7
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6/22 Lucas Torreira – 5
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7/22 Granit Xhaka – 6
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8/22 Sead Kolasinac – 5
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9/22 Mesut Ozil – 5
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10/22 Alexandre Lacazette – 6
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11/22 Pierrer-Emerick Aubameyang – 6
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12/22 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
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13/22 Cesar Azpiulicueta – 7
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14/22 David Luiz – 7
Action Images via Reuters
15/22 Andreas Christensen – 7
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16/22 Emerson – 7
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17/22 N’Golo Kante – 6
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18/22 Jorginho – 6
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19/22 Mateo Kovacic – 6
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20/22 Pedro – 7
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21/22 Olivier Giroud – 8
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22/22 Eden Hazard – 8
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1/22 Petr Cech – 7
AFP/Getty Images
2/22 Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 6
REUTERS
3/22 Laurent Koscielny – 6
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4/22 Nacho Monreal – 5
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5/22 Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7
AP
6/22 Lucas Torreira – 5
AFP/Getty Images
7/22 Granit Xhaka – 6
REUTERS
8/22 Sead Kolasinac – 5
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9/22 Mesut Ozil – 5
Getty Images
10/22 Alexandre Lacazette – 6
REUTERS
11/22 Pierrer-Emerick Aubameyang – 6
AFP/Getty Images
12/22 Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
AFP/Getty Images
13/22 Cesar Azpiulicueta – 7
AP
14/22 David Luiz – 7
Action Images via Reuters
15/22 Andreas Christensen – 7
AFP/Getty Images
16/22 Emerson – 7
REUTERS
17/22 N’Golo Kante – 6
AP
18/22 Jorginho – 6
AFP/Getty Images
19/22 Mateo Kovacic – 6
EPA
20/22 Pedro – 7
Getty Images
21/22 Olivier Giroud – 8
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22/22 Eden Hazard – 8
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Chelsea are believed to have agreed a deal worth around £40m for the midfielder, who was a regular starter under Maurizio Sarri last season.
Sarri has now departed the club for Juventus. Frank Lampard, who is currently the manager at Derby County, is expected to replace him after one season at Pride Park.
