LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea signed teenage Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday.
He was due to join Jose Mourinho's squad for their first pre-season training session later on Wednesday after arriving at the Premier League club's Cobham headquarters.
The 19-year-old is regarded as a dynamic young talent and has already featured in his country's Under-21 team.
He was also named in Croatia's provisional 30-man World Cup squad, but did not make the final cut for the tournament in Brazil and has yet to make his senior international debut.
"I am very happy because I am now a Chelsea player," Pasalic told Chelsea's website.
"I am very impressed by the training ground and I must thank everybody at Hajduk. This is now a new start in my career.
"I am a central midfielder, my favourite player is Frank Lampard, and so I am very happy to be a Chelsea player."
The German-born youngster came to Chelsea's attention after enjoying a fine first full season in senior football during 2013-14.
He scored 11 times in 36 appearances in all competitions and helped Hajduk to a third-place finish in the Croatian league.