The Dane’s departure from Stamford Bridge was confirmed last month and the defender has now officially joined the La Liga side on a free transfer.

After many years of service, which saw him lift the Champions League, the Europa League, the Club World Cup and the Super Cup with Chelsea, Christensen moves on for a new chapter and has thanked everyone connected to the club for the part they played in his development with the Blues and explained his decision to move on for pastures new.

‘Thank you for everything,’ Christensen wrote on Instagram.

‘I had a tough decision to make at the age of 16 to leave Denmark. There was only ever one choice for me and that was Chelsea. From the moment I arrived they made me feel at home, I’m grateful to Neil Bath and Jim Fraser [Head and Assistant of Youth Development] who immediately embraced me as part of their family.

‘Some of my proudest moments at the club were when we won FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League. Those were a special group of young players that I was proud to have as team-mates.

‘Last year was my proudest achievement as a player and team when we lifted the Champions League in Porto.

‘I was a young boy at Chelsea with all the hopes and fears of a player starting his career, I’m grateful to the whole club for making my dream come true.

‘Having spent ten amazing years at this club, I felt now was the right time for a new beginning for me and my family. Mentally the last few months have been tough as it’s not been an easy decision to leave this club and the fans.

‘I’m not the most talkative person so sometimes people don’t understand how much the club and the fans mean to me. I will miss the players, staff and everyone here. I wish the best for the club and the fans in the future.’