LONDON: Loic Remy joined Chelsea from Queens Park Rangers on a four-year deal on Sunday while Borussia Dortmund resigned Shinji Kagawa from Manchester United.

Chelsea bolstered their attacking options by signing France international striker Remy as a backup striking option after offloading Fernando Torres to AC Milan.

The pacy Remy, 27, arrives at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea activated a 10.5 million pound buyout clause ($17.42 million) in the player’s contract.

“I feel very happy and very proud. When I heard Chelsea wanted to sign me I said “let’s go” straight away because they are one of the best clubs in the world,” Remy, who has scored five goals in 24 games for France, told the club’s official website.

“I remember the amazing atmosphere at Stamford Bridge when I played there for Marseille and I can’t wait to play for the first time in front of my new fans.”

Remy spent last season on loan at Newcastle United scoring 14 goals in 26 Premier League appearances following QPR’s relegation from the Premier league.

Dortmund signed Kagawa for a reported fee of 8 million euros to end an unhappy two year spell with Manchester United for the Japanese international midfielder.

Dortmund announced in a statement that the 25-year-old signed a four-year deal through June 2018.

“The possibility of signing Shinji Kagawa from Manchester United only arose for the first time in the last few days,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said. “Naturally we decided to add his enormous quality to our squad once again.”

Kagawa, who helped Dortmund win the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012 in his two seasons at the club after moving from Japanese side Cerezo Osaka, played 71 games for United including 39 in the Premier League.

Another player moving to the Bundesliga is former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou.

Ivory Coast international Kalou joined Hertha Berlin on a three-year deal from France’s Lille for a reported fee of between 2.5 and 3 million euros.

“It is done. Salomon Kalou is now a ‘Herthaner’. Welcome,” tweeted Hertha manager Michael Preetz.

The 29-year-old Kalou played at Chelsea for six years before moving to Lille in 2012.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014