Chelsea have signed 35-year-old striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton on a two-year contract, with the fee undisclosed. The move is notable because it departs from the club’s recent preference for younger recruits and could affect the prospects of several existing centre-forwards.

Welbeck scored a career-best 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances for Brighton last season, placing him among the leading English scorers in the division. He is Chelsea’s third summer signing after Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra, and joins a forward group led by Joao Pedro alongside Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson.