Danny Welbeck completes move to Stamford Bridge from Brighton for undisclosed fee

Chelsea have completed the signing of Danny Welbeck from Brighton for an undisclosed fee.

Chelsea have turned to Welbeck as they look to add experience to manager Xabi Alonso's squad.

The last time the west London club paid a transfer fee for a player over the age of 26 was four years ago, when they signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.

It has been two years since Chelsea selected a player over the age of 30 in any game.

Welbeck has continued to be a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League at 35. He scored 13 last season, and 10 during the campaign before that.

His arrival is another example of Chelsea prioritising physically-imposing players with Premier League experience this summer.

They have already signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m - a record fee for a British player - and have brought in Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.

It would also place further doubt on the futures of strikers Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu.

Chelsea have signed several players from Brighton in recent seasons, including their main striker Joao Pedro, plus Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez.

Several Brighton staff members have also moved to Stamford Bridge over the past four years, including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Sam Jewell.

Welbeck reveals 'immense pride' at move

Welbeck says he already feels at home following "fantastic conversations" with Alonso and his relationships with some of the current Blues squad.

"When you hear of the interest from Chelsea, it's something that fills you with such immense pride," said Welbeck.

"Knowing the history of Chelsea, it's a club that wants to win trophies and is pushing to do that every single season.

"I'm really honoured to come to a club of this stature at what feels like a really exciting time.

"I know a few of the boys already, and I've had fantastic conversations with the manager and already feel that connection.

"I've got that fire in my belly, and I'm ready to give it everything for this club to make everyone at Chelsea, and the supporters, proud.'

Neville backs Chelsea decision to sign PL experience

Gary Neville has said signing players like Welbeck and Jordan Henderson is exactly what Chelsea's young players need in order to gain more guidance.

The former Premier League-winning captain insists the decision to bring the veterans in is not a "magical" one, but rather an example of what all top teams need to compete.

"If you watched Chelsea for the last three, four or five years you'd say there's inexperience right throughout the football club," he said.

"I think putting a spine in of good, senior professionals who act as guardians of good behaviour, responsibility and discipline in the dressing room is something that's not magic. It's something all top teams have had for many decades.

"Putting in Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck who know how to win Premier League titles, their jobs will be as much off the pitch as it will be on it. They're still good players who can contribute 25-35 games a season, but they will make sure the young players turn up every single day and give their all.

"I didn't think the young players at Chelsea have any real leadership or guidance on and off the pitch. They've now got people who can do that."

BlueCo's drastic change in transfer policy

Analysis from Sky Sports' Callum Bishop:

The BlueCo era at Chelsea has been defined by hoarding some of the best young talent on the planet and developing them in-house. That method has had some successes, but overall, it has not panned out.

There is clearly some recognition and accountability from the top brass about that. In bringing in Alonso as manager, they know they have lucked out in getting one of the most sought-after tacticians in the game. The Spaniard has clearly identified the need for experience and the club are following his lead.

The interest in Granit Xhaka earlier in the summer was among the first signs of the shift. Even making a move for Lacroix is evidence of a change in approach.

The Welbeck move is surprising, but there is some logic that can be applied to it. Is he going to start every week? No. However, Chelsea's other four senior strikers have an average age of just 23. Combined, they have made 269 Premier League appearances and scored 74 goals.

The Brighton veteran has 400 appearances and 90 goals on his own. To have that as your back-up to the young guns you want to develop makes sense.

Henderson? That's a complete 180-degree turn. Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are two of the more experienced players Alonso has. If you had to pick anywhere Chelsea needed a wise head, you would not say midfield.

Yet, they wanted Xhaka. They will soon have Henderson. Alonso may have been the man to oversee the blossoming of players like Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. However, he clearly sees the values of opposite characters and knows Chelsea, and perhaps more importantly, he needs people ready now.