An agreement was reached in April 2012 to sign Marko Marin from Werder Bremen. Both clubs agreed a fee and the 23-year-old midfielder agreed personal terms.

Marin, a German international, joined Chelsea in the summer.

Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he moved to Germany with his family at an early age and became a professional player at Borussia Monchengladbach before moving north to Bremen in the summer of 2009.

He made 87 Bundesliga appearances for the club prior to agreeing to sign for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals. He also played in the 2010 German Cup Final when his side lost to Bayern Munich.

Able to play as winger as well as a central player, Marin is 5ft 7in (170cm) in height and having played for Germany Under 21s, he made his debut for the senior Germany side in May 2008 prior to being part of the squad that won the European Under 21 championships in 2009.

For the senior team he made two substitute appearances during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and had 16 caps and one goal to his name at the end of the 2011/12 season.