Chelsea has completed the signing of Brazil midfielder Ramires from Benfica in its highest profile move of the summer transfer window.
Benfica confirmed last week that it had agreed to sell the 23-year-old player for $29 million and he completed the move Friday after passing medical tests and agreeing to a four-year contract.
''He is a fantastic player,'' Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said. ''He will be the future of the Brazil national team and I hope he will be the future of Chelsea.''
Ramires was a standout in the team that captured the Portuguese league title last season and played four games as Brazil made the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.
He has scored twice in 15 international appearances.
The Brazil international, whose full name is Ramires Santos Nascimento, joined Benfica last year from Cruzeiro in a $10 million transfer.
With Deco, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack having left since Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup last season, Ramires will compete with Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Yossi Benayoun for a place in midfield.
