‘Unique’ is a term which can be overused in football. Yet Chavarria's route to the Blues is certainly one that stands apart.

The Spaniard made his La Liga debut at the relatively late age of 24, having sacrificed everything during the opening chapters of his fledgling career to reach the top.

It was in the fourth tier of Spanish football that Chavarria played his first senior game, aged 18, and he subsequently spent the next six years climbing through every level of the pyramid. Rather than emerging from one of the country’s elite academies, he rose from the Tercera Division to La Liga, earning each promotion through performances rather than reputation.

And now, looking around his new home, our Cobham training ground, the delight on his face is clear, especially when asked about the journey and sacrifices he made to reach this point.

‘In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, I dreamed of moments like this,’ Pep reflected. ‘When I was a child, it was always my goal to arrive at a club like this.

‘I’ve played at every level in Spain, and to be able to move up, it’s always been about hard work because today is my dream coming true. I can say it was all worth it.’

A versatile full-back brimming with fire, energy and commitment, the 28-year-old believes the foundations built during his journey through the Spanish football pyramid will hold him in good stead as he begins a new chapter as a Chelsea player.

It is those attributes that Pep believes will help him adapt to life under Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, who began his senior career in Spain’s second tier before reaching the very top of the game.

He continued: ‘I think that the Premier League is the best in the world. I think there is more intensity, more duels and more quality than anywhere. And I think that it's the perfect league for me.

‘I'm a player that loves this intensity, one-to-one battles – I love it. Xabi was a top player, and now, for me, he's one of the best managers in the world. I spoke to him, and he explained his ideas and how I can fit into that. He wants my intensity, those one-on-ones, box-to-box attacking and defending runs – and this is how I play.’

With the opportunity to don the Chelsea shirt, the Spaniard is particularly excited to emulate some of his heroes.

Pep explained: ‘Marc Cucurella, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso are all references for me as a full-back.

‘Chelsea are winners, and they have winners. They are world champions with players like Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro, Estevao, and I think they are some of the best players in the world.

‘And Chelsea have a lot of history too with players like Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard – some of the best players in the world have played here. They have won the Champions League and the Club World Cup – it’s really exciting.’