Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1127413
30 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JUNE 2019 SPORTS FOOTBALL REAL Madrid have agreed a deal to sign forward Eden Haz- ard from Chelsea for a fee that could exceed £150m. Hazard has agreed a five-year contract and will be presented as a Real player on 13 June, subject to a medical. The Belgian scored 110 goals in 352 games for Chelsea after joining from Lille in 2012, and scored twice as they won the Europa League final last week. "Leaving Chelsea is the big- gest and toughest decision in my career to date," said Haz- ard. Writing on Facebook, he added: "I hope you understand I had to pursue my next chap- ter, just as each and every one of you should when you have the chance to pursue your dreams. "Now it's in the open I would like to put on record one thing was always clear to me, I have loved every moment at Chel- sea and not once did I ever consider, nor would I have left for any other club." Real Madrid are paying an initial 100m euros (£89m) for the attacking midfielder, though bonus payments could see Chelsea receive at least an- other £60m from the sale of the player. Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: "The memo- ries he leaves us with will not fade. "He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great enter- tainment and many match- winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormous- ly. "He has been a model profes- sional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individu- al to have around and a joy to work with." In seven seasons at Chelsea, Hazard, whose Blues contract was due to expire in a year, won the Premier League and Europa League twice, the FA Cup and League Cup. He was also named Chelsea's Player of the Year on four oc- casions. Real Madrid sign Eden Hazard for fee that could exceed £150m Eden Hazard won two Premier League trophies with Chelsea, with the most recent coming in the 2016-17 season