Branislav Ivanovic is back to the English Premier League, as he joins newly promoted West Brom on a one-year deal. This will be the second spell in the Premier League for the now 36-year-old defender, after spending 9-years with Chelsea.
According to the statement released on Tuesday 15th September 2020, on the official website of West Brom, the 36-year-old Serbian defender penned a one-year deal following his departure from Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he spent the last three-and-a-half seasons.
During his time at Chelsea, Branislav Ivanović won three league titles, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Europa League, three FA Cups, one League Cup and one FA Community Shield.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world,” said Branislav Ivanovic said.
“I need to challenge myself and I am ready for the challenge. I am really happy to be back playing in the Premier League.
“I hope I am going to be successful here.
“I have a lot of ambition and I want to prove a lot of things. I will give everything for the team.”
Baggies boss Slaven Bilić believes the signing of Ivanović will be a big boost to his squad.
“He’s a great addition for us, a team who are newly promoted in the Premier League. He ticks all the boxes for us.
“He’s done everything in his career – it’s been magnificent. We’re delighted. He adds quality and experience on the pitch and off the pitch.
“So it is not only him, it is him plus the influence he will have on not just defenders but the whole team around him. That’s why we targeted him as one of our prime targets.
“It’s a great signing for us.”
Branislav Ivanović joined Chelsea in 2008 at the January transfer window where he spent nine years at Stamford Bridge, where he won impressive 10 trophies in 377 appearances.
Antonio Conte’s arrival as Chelsea boss soon resulted in the defender’s departure in 2017, returning to Russia to help Zenit win two League titles before signing on at The Hawthorns in the summer of 2020.
The veteran is still the leading appearance-maker for the Serbian national side (105 caps), has won his native country’s ‘Footballer of the Year’ award twice and is also Chelsea’s 15th highest player for all-time appearances.