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Danny Welbeck said he is ready to use his experience to full effect after his move from Brighton to Chelsea was officially confirmed.

The 35-year-old has joined for an undisclosed fee and signed a two-year contract. He will link up with Xabi Alonso’s squad during the club’s pre-season tour of Australia and South-East Asia.

Chelsea shifted away from their youth-first transfer strategy at the end of the 2025/26 season, accepting the need to bring more experienced players into the group. Welbeck, who has made 400 Premier League appearances, is set to provide that know-how alongside Jordan Henderson, who is expected to complete his own move to the club in the next few days.

After putting pen to paper, Welbeck made it clear he still believes he has plenty to contribute on the pitch, having just enjoyed the most prolific Premier League goalscoring season of his career.

When asked what persuaded him to join Chelsea, he told the club’s website: “Trophies and winning. That philosophy resonates with me because that's something I strive to do every single day.

“I want to win, to improve, to get better, and it's a club with some great history. Chelsea have won a lot of trophies, and that's something that I really want to strive towards as well.”

Welbeck added that he is eager to use his experience to help Chelsea’s younger players reach their maximum potential.

“I’m coming to the later stage of my career, but I'm as hungry as ever and as passionate as ever, ready to put everything into this next chapter,” he said.

“Obviously, with age comes experience, and I've got invaluable experience. I’ve been around the Premier League for a long, long time and I’ve been at some big clubs.

“With everything that I've experienced in my time as a Premier League footballer, I've learned so much.

“It’s given me such a good outlook about what I can do to help, not just myself, but others around me as well.

“I’ve seen a lot, so I've always got a lot of advice for some of the younger players who want to take it on board, and it's amazing to be in this position.”

Welbeck’s arrival is expected to have consequences for the other strikers in Chelsea’s squad, with at least one of Liam Delap, Emanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson now likely to leave the club.

He is Chelsea’s second signing of the week after Maxence Lacroix joined from Crystal Palace.

More departures are also expected, with Chelsea looking to trim their oversized squad by moving on a number of defenders.