Chelsea veteran Thiago Silva has opened up on his ex-teammate Jorginho switching sides with Arsenal on a deadline day transfer of the January transfer window. The Italian midfielder’s move happened too quickly and literally came out of the blue. No one saw it coming as the Gunners were rather on the trail of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, only for the Seagulls to reject their two bids of £60m and £70m.
Arsenal then turned their attention towards Jorginho, a readymade Premier League veteran whose contract was up in the summer at Stamford Bridge. And much to the surprise of the fans, Jorginho accepted to move to north London from West London without any hesitation, as Thiago Silva reveals even the Chelsea players were couldn’t believe it. The Brazilian also had an update on his contractual situation at the club as well.
‘We didn’t expect’ – Thiago Silva reacts to Jorginho’s Arsenal switch
Arsenal paid a fixed £10m to Chelsea for Jorginho and have further agreed £2m in add-ons to sign him on a one-and-a-half-year deal. The move was seen as a desperate tactic from Arsenal to bolster their title bid this season as they currently sit atop of the Premier League. Jorginho’s addition provides them ample experience in a player who knows what it takes to win titles having lifted four at Stamford Bridge. However, Thiago Silva has revealed that the Chelsea players ‘didn’t expect’ for the move to go through, as he told ESPN Brasil:
“[It was to] a direct rival. But that’s football stuff, it happens. He would like to stay in England because he has family nearby. These are things we have no control over, but we also have to understand the player’s side of things.
“I know we have a lot of work ahead of us, we lost one of our great leaders in the dressing room, Jorginho, a guy who spoke a lot. There will be this gap, but we have to move on. We didn’t expect him to leave and he did. Now we have to make up for his absence in the best way possible.”
While Thiago Silva may lament Jorginho’s switch, it was certainly a smart move from the 31-year-old. He left a mid-table struggling team in Chelsea, to join forces with Arsenal who are pushing for the league title and are through to the round of 16 of the Europa League, a trophy Jorginho won during his time at Stamford Bridge. Moreover, with the Gunners’ midfield duo Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny out injured, Jorginho is surely an essential addition.
Thiago Silva was also asked about his contract at the club, which expires in the summer. Reports have confirmed that Chelsea are in talks to reward the 38-year-old with an extension until the end of the 23/24 season. The defender was brought in from PSG for free in the summer of 2020, and was an instant hit, helping the Blues win the Champions League, Super Cup and the Club World Cup. The player himself commented on his contract talks:
“We are talking about it, everything will probably happen in the next few days. My intention, and that of the club as well, is to stay together. I know that the club needs me right now. I am here to be able to help, there are young players [who I can help]. I know that, with my experience, I can help in this process of rebuilding the club. I’m here for that and willing to do this. I know that my responsibility is very great.”