Chelsea
On 11 May 2006 Shevchenko announced his intention to leave AC Milan, despite having pledged his future to the club several times, saying:
“It is useless hiding things — I was with the president, we talked of many things and also about the possibility that I could leave. There hasn’t been a definitive decision. I want to be clear, we are only talking. This has nothing to do with my relationship with Milan, there has always been a great deal of affection, as with my team mates and coaches. The decision that I am considering regards above all my family…”[3]
Before this revelation, he had constantly denied that he wanted to leave AC Milan. He had previously stated that he wanted to become a Milan legend like Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini. This revelation has brought tremendous disappointment to Milan fans who have given Shevchenko a lot of respect for his contribution to the club. On 14 May, during the last Serie A encounter between Milan and Roma, Shevchenko went to watch the first half with the Milan supporters, many of whom cried and begged of him to stay at Milan.
It was rumoured that Chelsea had expressed an interest in acquiring him from Milan, when Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: “I think Shevchenko is the type of player we would like. At the end of the day to improve what we have got, it has to be a great player and Shevchenko certainly comes into that class.”[4]
On 31 May, he signed for Chelsea, ending his seven-year career with AC Milan.[5] The fee has not been officially disclosed, but most media outlets put it as high as £30 million ($58 million US, €45m[6]) or a little more (£56 million), which would make it the most expensive transfer in English football and one of the top six in the world. Shevchenko joined up with his new team after the 2006 World Cup. Andriy Shevchenko received the number seven shirt, as Chelsea coach José Mourinho said that Shevchenko could continue with the number he has sported for many seasons.[7]
On 13 August 2006, Shevchenko scored his first goal for Chelsea in the Community Shield match against Liverpool, which Chelsea lost 2-1. On August 23, 2006, Shevchenko scored his first FA Premier League goal for Chelsea in a 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough, which was also his 300th career goal in top-flight and international football.