Turkish giants Fenerbahce have completed the signing of striker Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
The 28-year-old, who successfully passed his medical on Friday evening, has penned a two-year contract until the summer of 2024, with the option to extend his deal by a further year.
Batshuayi had initially agreed to stay in the Premier League and join Nottingham Forest on loan, but his proposed switch to the City Ground fell through on deadline day.
The Belgium international has now been offered an escape route from Stamford Bridge to Turkey, but instead of reuniting with Besiktas – where he spent last season on loan – he will link up with Fenerbahce on a permanent basis.
"I want to say that I am really excited. At the same time, I am very happy and happy. I am very happy to be back in this country, especially to this community, to this club," Batshuayi told the club's official website.
ᴍɪᴄʜʏ ʙᴀᴛꜱʜᴜᴀʏɪ 💪 pic.twitter.com/J5VvdUxbFq
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) September 2, 2022
"It's very important for me because being here makes me feel extremely good and I have been very well received from the moment I arrived."
Board member Selahattin Baki added: "It was a profile we were looking for. We have been working on some names since he came with our teacher, he was one of the players he wanted the most.
"We entered the transfer competition with two English clubs, we knew that he would win last night. But let me give him credit, he showed a good stance and wanted to come here.
"This is his home now, his home is Kadikoy! This year's structuring will add great depth and strength to our staff. good luck. God bless the player. I hope this is the end of the road."
Batshuayi becomes Fenerbahce's 14th signing of the summer, following the likes of Diego Rossi, Luan Peres, Joshua King, Emre Mor, Ezgjan Alioski and Joao Pedro.
© Reuters
After beginning his career with Standard Liege, Batshuayi spent two years at Marseille before signing for Chelsea for a fee in excess of £30m in the summer of 2016.
However, the striker struggled for regular game time in West London and was eventually loan out on five separate occasions to four different clubs, firstly joining Borussia Dortmund for the second half of the 2017-18 season.
Over the last four seasons, Batshuayi has spent two loan spells with Crystal Palace either side of temporary periods at Valencia and Besiktas.
The Brussels-born striker enjoyed regular first-team football at Besiktas last term and recorded 14 goals and five assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, although he was unable to help the club qualify for Europe.
Batshuayi, who now leaves Chelsea permanently after six years at Stamford Bridge, scored 25 goals in 77 appearances for the club, and one of his most memorable moments for the Blues came back in 2017 when he netted the winner against West Bromwich Albion to secure their fifth Premier League title.
It remains to be seen whether Batshuayi has been registered in time to make his Fenerbahce debut against Kayserispor in the Super Lig on Saturday, but he could instead make his first appearance when they play host to Dynamo Kyiv in the Europa League group stage next Thursday.
Oliver Thomas
