The former As Monaco midfielder revealed that the careers of Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba influenced him to sign for the club.
Tiemoue Bakayoko completed the long awaited deal on Saturday – after completing his medicals he arrived at Chelsea in a transfer worth £40 million.
Following his move to Stamford Bridge, Bakayoko confirmed that Claude Makelele – arguably Chelsea’s greatest ever defensive midfielder – was highly influential in making him the player he is today.
Bakayoko told the club’s website: “Makelele helped me greatly. When he arrived at Monaco I wasn’t a very, very good player, but I had a lot of discussions with him, he gave me a lot of advice, and he allowed me to play my style of football more simply.
“Drogba has had a stellar career and he managed to do so many great things, first at Marseille and then here at Chelsea. He is definitely an example I wish to follow, be it the footballer or the person himself. He showed the whole world what he was and I saw that and admired it.”
Makelele however isn’t the only former Chelsea player to have had an influence on the Blues’ latest signing.
The French international also revealed that striker Didier Drogba was also an inspiration.
‘Drogba has had a stellar career and he managed to do so many great things, first at Marseille and then here at Chelsea,’ he said.
‘He is definitely an example that I wish to follow, be it the footballer or the person himself. He showed the whole world what he was and I saw that and admired it.’
It is expected that the 22 year old wearing the No.14 shirt for Chelsea in the upcoming season will partner up in central midfield with N’Golo Kante .