After weeks of speculation, Lille’s exciting Belgian forward Eden Hazard has revealed that he will be playing for Chelsea next season.  The deal is a major coup for the new European Champions and highlights once again despite recent departures that the Blues are strengthening for next season.

Both Manchester clubs were interested in Hazard whose fee to join the Stamford Bridge club is believed to be at least £32m. Manchester City for months had seemingly led the way for the Belgian’s signature going to great depths to find out as much as they could about the player’s character and background story.

In the end Hazard’s heart was always set on a move to Chelsea and the following quotes given on French television in the aftermath of Lille’s 4-1 win over Nancy seemed to suggest that the Blues were now favourites:

‘I have not made my choice. Chelsea is a possibility now, yes. Chelsea will play in the Champions League next year.

‘They are a great team with great players. Their interest has made me hesitate. I want it (his future) sorted out by June 2 when Belgium play England. I want to go on holiday with a clear head.’

An important question that Hazard’s signing raises now is whether Roberto Di Matteo, Roman Ambramovich or a new manager completely has sealed the deal. In all likelihood it’s a mixture of two out of the three. After all it wasn’t Jose Mourinho that wanted Andriy Shevchenko was it?

The powers that be at Chelsea will not want their win in Munich to go to waste and it’s clear to see that a new regime/style on the pitch is beginning to take place. Didier Drogba has gone whilst Jose Boswinga and Salomon Kalou have been told they can find new clubs. Germany’s talented midfielder Marko Marin has signed, Kevin De Bruyne has returned to the club after seeing out the second-half of the season on loan at Genk and now Hazard has joined.

One key factor about Hazard is that Chelsea have a growing contingent of Belgians at the club. Romelu Lukaku will only get better now that his path to the first-team is shorter, De Bruyne will be looking to make an impact and Thibaut Courtois after an impressive year out on loan with Europa League winners Atletico Madrid is waiting for his chance too despite Petr Cech signing a new four-year deal.

So what does Hazard’s move mean for Manchester United. Not a lot really. The way that the player openly talked about the move on Twitter and declared that he would reveal his next club at a particular time/date would not have happened if Old Trafford would have been his next stop. It’s that simple.

Yes it would have been great to have signed one of Europe’s most sought after young talents and rub it in the faces of our rivals. However you can only have a certain number of eggs in one basket and with our attacking options did we really need Hazard as much as we need an creative central midfielder in say Shinji Kagawa who plays for Borussia Dortumund.

Only time will tell if Chelsea have spent well on Hazard, but one thing’s for sure after all the hype that has taken place before his move, for the fee that has been paid he is certainly going to want to make sure that he delivers and shows the rest of the world that his time in France was just the start of what should be a great career ahead.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87