Chelsea target Batshuayi confirms Marseille departure

Marseille (AFP) – Belgian international striker Michy Batshuayi, reportedly set for a 40 million-euro (£32.9m, $44.4m) switch from Marseille to Premier League side Chelsea, confirmed he was leaving the Ligue 1 outfit on Saturday.

Marseille had requested their 22-year-old top scorer from last season keep quiet on the move until details had been hammered out between the two clubs.

“It will be made official tomorrow, I will be leaving Olympique Marseille this summer,” Batshuayi wrote on Twitter Saturday.

“Above all, I particularly want to thank all the supporters of OM. It’s a big honour for me to have worn this jersey at the Velodrome, a stadium which you have made magnificent with an atmosphere which is unique in France.

“I thank the directors of Olympique de Marseille for having confidence in me and the coaching staff who have helped me progress.

“Having developed for a season under coach (Marcelo) Bielsa was a privilege and I would love to achieve what he has wished for me in the remainder of my career.

“Thanks also to coach Franck Passi for having supported and advised me since my arrival at Marseille, and my team-mates for these two seasons.

A 6.5-million-euro signing from Standard Liege in 2014, Batshuayi scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 last season and netted 23 times in all competitions. Marseille finished 13th in Ligue 1 last season.

Batshuayi spent his first season at Marseille as understudy to Andre-Pierre Gignac, before the France international left for Mexican side Tigres at the end of the last campaign.

Although he signed a contract extension in January, tying him to the club until 2020, he had been expected to leave this summer.

Batshuayi also came off the bench to score Belgium’s second goal in their 4-0 win over Hungary in the last 16 of Euro 2016 on Sunday. He has now scored three times in seven appearances for his country.